Blessing and sprinkling with holy water

 Blessing and sprinkling with Holy Water

During the Easter Season we have been starting Sunday morning mass with blessing and sprinkling with Holy Water.

Fr Philip sprinkles congregation with holy water

The Roman Missal recommends that Sunday Mass occasionally includes the blessing and sprinkling of Holy Water as a reminder of our baptism, especially during the Easter season. Therefore, throughout Eastertide we will observe this rite at the 10.30am Mass. 

The prayers are as follows:

After the greeting the priest blesses the water:

Dear brethren, let us humbly beseech the Lord our God to bless this water he has created, which will be sprinkled on us as a memorial of our baptism. May he help us by his grace to remain faithful to the Spirit we have received. Lord our God, in your mercy be present to your peoples prayers, and, for us who recall the wondrous work of our redemption, graciously bless this water.

God you created water to make the fields fruitful and to refresh and cleanse our bodies. You also made water the instrument of your mercy: for through water you freed your people from slavery in the desert; through water the prophets proclaimed the new covenant you were to enter upon with the human race; and last of all. Through water, which Christ made holy in the Jordan, you renewed our corrupted nature in the bath of regeneration. Therefore, may this water be for us a memorial of the baptism we have received, and grant that we may share in the gladness of our brothers and sisters who at Easter have received their baptism. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

The priest sprinkles himself, and then all the congregation, with holy water, asking forgiveness of our sins in preparation to celebrate Holy Mass. During which the choir sing.

When he returns to the altar he says:

May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through the celebration of this Eucharist make us worthy to share at the table of his Kingdom. Amen.

Book of condolence

 Pope Francis (RIP)

1936 - 2025

Our Holy Father Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning. After leading the Church as the 266th successor of St Peter for 12 years he has gone to his eternal reward. 

As a parish we keep him in our prayers, and pray also for those cardinals who have the solemn duty of choosing the new pope. Books of condolence are available at the back of the Cathedral to sign.  

Book of Condolence

This is located next to the statue of St Peter holding the keys and is a replica of one in Rome.  A reminder of the first Pope and link of continuity with Pope Francis who was the 266th Pope.

The Bishop will celebrate a requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the Holy Father on Monday at 7pm in the Cathedral. Please make a special effort to be there to show our love and esteem

St Peter's Key's

From a previous Easter Octave post: The peaceful Beauty of Lancaster Cathedral created by a parishioner.    

East Vigil

 Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil is the final part of the Triduum.  As Fr John explained in his homily it is marked by three symbols, light, water and the word Alleluia. 

Paschal Candle enters a darkened Cathedral

Singing the Exultet

Light - symbolised by the Paschal Candle that was lit from the fire outside and brought into the Cathedral at dusk. Due to the late Easter it wasn't as dark as it usually is, but the symbolism was still powerful as the Paschal Candle was raised three times, at the back, middle and front of the Church. Fr John sang 'Lumen Christi' (The Light of Christ) to which we replied 'Deo Gratis' (Thanks be to God). He then sang the Exultet (The Easter proclamation). 

Liturgy of the Word - After that we listened to the story of salvation with familiar Old Testament readings including the story of Creation, Abraham and Isaac, and the Exodus, and psalms. The readings were read in darkening Church, at the end Bishop Paul sang out Gloria in Excelsis and the bells rang, the organ played and the candles were lit and lights turned on.  This is always a very powerful reminder that Jesus is the light of the world who has risen from the dead and brought us eternal life. And sang the Alleluia to greet the Gospel something we haven't done throughout the season of Lent.

Water - We moved to the symbol of water where some of the congregation were able to join a member of the parish being baptised. The choir sang a litany of the saints and we saw the Bishop plunge the Paschal candle into the water in the font to bless it. 

Baptism - The Baptism involved baptismal promises (those gathered also renewed their promises) anointing with oil that had been consecrated at the Chrism Mass on Thursday was used, and water poured three times over the head, with the words I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. A Baptismal candle and white garment were presented symbolising light and purity. 

Confirmation - After that we returned to our seats and the five people being received into the Catholic Church made their professional of faith and were then confirmed by the Bishop.

We continued with the rest of our Mass, and at the end were sent out in the Peace of Christ, Alleluia.  This time there was joyful greetings of Happy Easter and He is risen, a contrast to the silent departure of the previous days.  We will celebrate the Easter Season for 50 days. Alleluia.

Final Blessing - Alleluia

A warm welcome 

For five parishioners who were received into the Catholic Church with one of them also being baptised. As the Bishop reminded them, they are now as Catholic as he is!

Parishioners received into the Catholic Church

Good Friday

Good Friday

Today we gathered in silence at 3.00 to listen to the Lord's Passion from John's Gospel, venerate the cross and receive Holy Communion.   

Bare altar with Crucifix and candles

Again we left in silence, tomorrow we will return for the Easter Vigil where we will have the third part of our Holy Triduum. 

Below a traditional Good Friday hymn for reflection. 

Mass of the Lord's Supper

 Mass of the Lord's Supper

Tonight we gathered for the first of three linked services that together form the Holy Triduum. We listened to John's Gospel of the Last Supper where Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an example of service.  Our Bishop washed the feet of parishioners including some of our confirmandi (who will get confirmed on Pentecost Sunday) and other parishioners who serve the parish in a variety of ways as readers, catechists, servers as well as in the local community.

The Bishop washes the feet of 12 parishioners as a sign of service.

The Mass of the Lord's Supper is when the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist and the ministerial priesthood. 

Solemn procession with Blessed Sacrament to the Lady Chapel for a time of prayer

At the end of Mass we processed to place the host in the tabernacle in the Lady Chapel for a time of watch and praying with the Lord. We left in silence to return tomorrow for the Good Friday Service. 

Mass of Chrism

 Mass of Chrism

Today priests, deacons, religious and the laity of the diocese gathered together with the Bishop to celebrate the Chrism Mass.

Short 2 minute video from Chrism Mass 2025

At this Mass the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils for use during the coming year.  Whenever the Holy Oils are used in any parish in the diocese, the ministry of the Bishop who consecrated them is symbolically present. At the end of Mass the priests take back Holy Oils to their own parishes which they will use in the sacraments in the year ahead. 

The Chrism Mass reminds us of our oneness in Christ through Baptism and its holy anointing, may possibly by the ministry of the Bishop and his priests and deacons. 

During today's Mass the priests will renew their vow of obedience to our Diocesan Bishop Paul Swarbrick and their commitment to serve God's people. 

Holy Week and the Easter Triduum

 Holy Week and the Easter Triduum

And so we begin with Holy Week. Why not watch what happened at the Cathedral in 2019 and come and join us this week as we celebrate 2025. Come and join us tomorrow Palm Sunday where we will process carrying palms and singing Hosanna.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Holy Week, which for Christians is the most important week of the year, gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the central events of the Redemption, to relive the Paschal Mystery, the great Mystery of faith. ...

At the Chrism Mass, which the Bishop celebrates with his priests in the morning, and during which the priestly promises pronounced on the day of Ordination are renewed.

At the Mass of the Lord's Supper the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, the ministerial priesthood and the new Commandment of love that Jesus entrusted to his disciples. ...

And so we come to Good Friday, the day of the Passion and the Crucifixion of the Lord. Every year, standing in silence before Jesus hanging on the wood of the Cross, we feel how full of love the words were that he spoke on the previous evening during the Last Supper. "This is my blood, of the covenant, which is poured out for many" (Mk 14: 24) ...

The recollection and silence of Holy Saturday will usher us into the night of the solemn Easter Vigil, "mother of all vigils", when the hymn of joy in Christ's Resurrection will burst forth in all the churches and communities. Once again the victory of light over darkness, of life over death will be proclaimed and the Church will rejoice in the encounter with her Lord. Thus we shall enter into the atmosphere of Easter.

Let us prepare to live the Holy Triduum intensely, in order to share ever more deeply in the Mystery of Christ. We are accompanied in this itinerary by the Blessed Virgin who silently followed her Son Jesus to Calvary, taking part with deep sorrow in his sacrifice and thus cooperating in the mystery of the Redemption and becoming Mother of all believers (cf. Jn 19: 25-27). Together with her we shall enter the Upper Room, we shall remain at the foot of the Cross, we shall watch in spirit beside the dead Christ, waiting with hope for the dawn of the radiant day of the Resurrection. 

Extracts from the Audience of Pope Benedict XVI 8th April 2009

Bishop Paul Swarbrick's first Holy Week as Bishop of Lancaster

Celebrating the Jubilee Holy Year

 Start of Holy Year 

Today Bishop Paul came to celebrate 10.30 Mass and open the Holy Year for our parish. We gathered outside the West (main) door of the Cathedral in a way similar to Palm Sunday. The liturgy of the opening of the Holy Year consisted of 4 steps

Reading Papal Bull at start of Holy Year

Prayers outside the Cathedral with the reading of the Papal Bull (decree) inaugurating the Holy Year

A solemn opening of the main doors of the cathedral with the Bishop leading the people into the House of God behind the medieval processional cross from Cockersands Abbey

Blessing and sprinkling of Holy Water

Solemn celebration of Mass beginning with the Gloria.

Cockersands Abbey Medieval Cross

To read more about this splendid cross see the Wyre Archaeology Society

Happy Christmas - Thank you

Happy Christmas 

A huge thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate Christmas this year: cleaners, flower arrangers, those who decorated the churches and built our cribs, our organist and choir, altar servers, sacristans, office staff, readers, welcomers and collectors. A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes from so many parishioners to make our churches the welcoming places of worship that they are. Thank you so much for everything you do throughout the year. Fr John

Our new crib: Lancaster Cathedral, 2024

A Happy and Holy Christmas: Christmas Candle

Bishop Paul preaching at Midnight Mass 
surrounded by the Advent and Christmas candles

Light me, I am the white candle,

I cry out the end of waiting.

I am the candle

whose colour contains

all the spectrum’s colours.

I am the light

that sets the sky ablaze

for shepherds.

I am the star

that draws wise men

to journey to a destination.

I am the glow

that comes from a baby born -

from all of Love.

I am the fire

that stands in the centre of four flames - I proclaim Gospel.

Poem by Tim Hoare, parishioner 2024

Starting celebrations for Diocesan Centenary

Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King the last Sunday of Year B.  In the Diocese of Lancaster we are also celebrating the start of a special year of celebrations the centenary of when the Diocese was created. Bishop Paul Swarbrick the 7th Bishop of Lancaster celebrated Mass at the start of this important year.  He stands in front of the Cathedra which is a seat of authority. 

Bishop Paul Swarbrick 
Standing in front of Cathedra

At the back of the Cathedral in the INSPIRE display there is a copy of the Papal Bull that established the Cathedral back in 1924. 

Papal Bull creating the Diocese of Lancaster in 1924

First Mass and First Blessings

Yesterday was a great day for the Cathedral, Lancaster Diocese and our new priest Fr Simon Marley and all his friends and family. 

Fr Simon Marley at his First Mass

Today Fr Simon celebrated his first Mass and was joined by four priests and Fr John acting as MC and offering support throughout, a reversal from previous weeks when Fr Simon as Deacon was serving and supporting Fr John and Fr Philip. 

The homily focused on a very familiar sacramental of the incensing. There are so many things that happen during Mass that we can take for granted or not realise the importance of but sense they are important.  Incensing is one such action. We incense the altar, the Gospel, the priest and the people. 

The General Instruction § 276 Thurification or incensation is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in Sacred Scripture (cf. Ps 141 [140]:2; Rev 8:3). 

Incensing during Mass - altar, priest and concelebrating priests

Incensing the people

To learn more about incensing during Mass, see Adoremus.org article Holy Smoke – The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church 

Fr Simon Marley
with Fr John Millar, Dean of Lancaster to his right 

At the end of Mass, Fr Simon reminded us all about the importance of praying for vocations and for those who are preparing for priesthood.  As is the custom Fr Simon gave first blessings to those who had not been able to attend the ordination the previous day.

Fr Simon giving first blessing
to one of the Cathedral Families

Feast of the Dedication of the Cathedral

In every church that has been consecrated or dedicated there is kept an annual feast on the anniversary of that dedication in thanksgiving to God. The feast of the dedication of the cathedral is kept in every church in the diocese. For us here in Lancaster Diocese the feast of the Cathedral’s dedication is kept on 5th October except in the Cathedral itself where it is kept on the nearest Sunday.

The consecration of a church and an altar sets them aside forever for the worship of God alone. It makes them a sacred place, a privileged place to encounter God and to be filled with His grace. When our cathedral was consecrated on 4th October 1859 a series of rich prayers and ceremonies drawn from the Old Testament and the Book of the Apocalypse made visible and tangible this setting aside of the Cathedral as a holy place.

The altar at Lancaster Cathedral

The walls themselves would have been anointed with the oil of Chrism in 12 places. In the last book of the bible we find the New Jerusalem (both a symbol of the Catholic Church and of heaven) built on the 12 foundation stones which are the apostles of the Lamb. These 12 anointings remind us that our Cathedral is an image of this New Jerusalem, a symbol of the Catholic Church in physical form and a reminder of heaven. Today 12 candles burn on the walls of the Cathedral at these places that were anointed.

SS John Fisher and Thomas More

Relics of saints (especially martyrs) are buried in a consecrated altar. In the main altar of the Cathedral are enclosed relics of SS John Fisher and Thomas More who gave their lives in the persecution of Catholics by Henry VIII. Again, in the book of the Apocalypse, we see those who ‘have washed their robes clean in the Blood of the Lamb’, in other words the martyrs, under the altar. The gift of their lives is an echo of Christ’s sacrifice offered on the Cross and made present on the altar during Mass.

The anniversary of the consecration of a cathedral has a special significance because it is a focus of unity for the diocese. It is the seat of the bishops teaching authority (the Greek word for a teachers chair is cathedra, the name we give the bishop’s throne). It is the centre of the solemn worship of God for the diocese where the Bishop leads His people in prayer and praise.

In thanksgiving to God for the gifts and graces He has given to His people in this place there will be Vespers (evening prayer) and Benediction at 4pm this afternoon.

O God, who year by year renew for us the day when this your holy temple was consecrated, hear the prayers of your people and grant that in this place for you there may always be pure worship and for us, fulness of redemption. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Welcome to Fr Philip Wrigley:

Fr Philip meeting one of the 6.30 readers

It is lovely to have my second appointment here in this Parish. I am slowly settling into the busyness of Cathedral life. Over the last two years I was appointed as Assistant Priest to Christ the King & St Kentigern’s Parish, Blackpool. This was my first appointment after being ordained here in this Cathedral two years ago.

It was a busy parish with two churches, two primary schools, and a hospital. I was also appointed by Bishop Paul to be the Priest Chaplain for St Mary’s Secondary School in Blackpool.

Weekly life at the parish was busy with visits to the schools, hospital, and my Holy Communion rounds to the sick and housebound, as well as evening catechesis sessions.

All ministries are very rewarding, however, I found hospital ministry extremely special. Being there at the last moments of someone’s life and administering the Church’s Sacraments in order to prepare their souls for eternal life with the Father, was very moving. A duty only a Priest can do, that is why vocations to the priesthood are so important.

Here at Lancaster, Bishop Paul has appointed me to continue with my hospital ministry, as I become the new RC Chaplain to Lancaster Infirmary. It is so important that the priest knows that you are in hospital, in order for you to receive regular visits and the Sacraments. Just let the hospital staff know and they will follow the procedure to contact the on-call priest.

Another responsibility I have on my shoulders is the ‘Data Protection Officer’ for the Diocese. I am currently involved in rolling out a new ’Microsoft Office 365’ email system throughout the Diocese, in accordance with the latest Data Protection & Safeguarding legislations. As you can imagine this will be challenging and will take some time. However, there is a good team behind me, to make this project a success.

I am looking forward to my time here at the Cathedral Parish of St Peter and St Thomas More, and I pray that it will be fruitful. Please keep me in your prayers, as I will keep you in mine.

God bless, Fr Philip.

Fr Philip on his day of ordination
16th July 2022
Lancaster Cathedral

Ss Peter and Paul

St Peter and St Paul
from Te Deum Window

 30th June this year is our patronal feast at the Cathedral of SS Peter and Paul. The Bishop will celebrate the 10.30 Mass and also celebrate Vespers and Benediction at 4pm that day. 

Later this year the Diocese of Lancaster will celebrate 100 years since its foundation by Pope Pius XI. This has a special resonance for us because it is the moment St Peter’s went from being a simple parish church to a cathedral. Beginning in November the Diocese will have a series of celebrations to give thanks to God for the 100 years of its existence. The official beginning of these celebrations will be on the feast of Christ the King, 24th November, with the Bishop celebrating our 10.30am Mass. 

Next year is also a Holy Year, called by the Pope. So there truly never is ordinary time, but always an opportunity for grace and encounter with the Lord!

Welcome Fr John Millar

 Welcome and Thank you

Photo Fr John Millar

At the end of his first week Fr John Millar the new Cathedral Dean sends a word of thanks. 

Thank you to all those who have made me welcome in my first week here at the Cathedral. I arrived on Monday afternoon and have enjoyed learning about the cathedral (and trying to find what keys open what door!). 

I look forward to getting to know you and sharing your parish life.

For those who have been in the parish for some time you may remember Fr John Millar was ordained in the Cathedral, use the search toolbar to find previous posts of his ordination.

Confirmations on Feast of Pentecost

 Confirmations on Feast of Pentecost

Today Bishop Paul Swarbrick came to confirm 54 young people from around the Lancaster Diocese.  Bishop Paul in his homily thanked all the parents for all they had done to bring up their young people and fulfil the Baptismal Promises they have made on their behalf, to the sponsors who had been chosen as individuals who would support the young people in the future and to the catechists in all parishes who had helped prepare the young people.

Throughout the coming days we'll share details of the different parishes, but today we share Confirmandi who were prepared at St Peter's Cathedral.

Confirmandi from St Peter's Cathedral and St Joseph Lancaster

We add our thanks to: 

• our servers from the Cathedral and St Joseph's including two young people who were confirmed in 2022.  
• our Musical Director and choir who enriched our liturgy and 
• our catechists who helped prepare our young people and helped to ensure all went smoothly on the day: Alan,  Ben, Christy, Emma, Elizabeth,  'Jim'  and Ann-Marie. 

10 years on…

 10 years on…

... and it’s time for a new Cathedral Dean at St Peter’s and at St Thomas More on the Marsh.
This is my final weekend with my people, so I wanted to express my sadness in parting but also my deep joy at being a member of our two parish communities. You have let me into your lives to share events of great elation and profound grief, and these things help forge us into the people we are. I have been blessed with brother priests who have assisted in taking the parish community forward, often through challenging times. I remember with gratitude the work of Fr Stewart Keeley, Fr Andrew Dawson, Fr John Paul Evans, Fr Stuart Chapple and now Fr Mathew Minisare.

Fr Steve Pearson

We were also blessed for many years by the ministry of, now retired, Deacon, Jim Wood. I/We have also been blessed by having Damian Howard as our Organist and Director of Music ably assisted at one time by a number of organ scholars and more recently by Karen Jones. We have a number of very loyal volunteers who help the parish to function in a vital way and I am very grateful for their time and dedication. Among them I will single out Joan Fox. For the last ten years, and to a slightly lesser extent onward with Fr Millar, Joan has used her administrative skills to help keep several aspects of parish life functional including building work and repairs, project planning, organising a Bishop’s ordination. Hours of work, unpaid by the parish, simply because of the love she has for our parish. Thank you Joan.

Now it’s time to welcome Fr John Millar as Cathedral Dean. Fr John arrives into the parish tomorrow, Monday, to begin his ministry. He has been a priest for 12 years and brings with him experience and youthful energy. Look after him!

Thank you for continuing to support the Cathedral and St Thomas More parish. Please pray for me as I take up my new appointment at Holy Family parish Freckleton with St Anne’s Westby. May God’s Kingdom come. Amen!  Fr Steve.

Feast of Pentecost

 Feast of Pentecost 

Tomorrow we celebrate the great Feast of Pentecost.  Having spent 40 days during Lent to prepare for Easter, we've then spent 50 days celebrating Easter, that Christ is risen.  Last week we remembered on the Feast of the Ascension Jesus going up to heaven to be seated at the right hand of his Father. When he left he promised that he would send a helper, the paraclete, an advocate - the Holy Spirit who would be with us.  Tomorrow we remember when the Holy Spirit came to the Apostles and the birth of the Church.  So tomorrow is the Churches birthday.

For 54 young people in our Diocese they will gather in St Peter's Cathedral, Lancaster to be confirmed by Bishop Paul Swarbrick.  As Fr Steve Pearson said they may not feel different, but when the Bishop calls down the Holy Spirit, this will be confirming what happened at Baptism. Please keep those young people in your prayers. 

The feast of Pentecost is something we celebrate, below a 2 minute video on what it means.  

Feast of Ascension

 Feast of the Ascension

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, one of the most important feasts of the Church's year. Behind the triptych at the Cathedral we have a beautiful stained glass window that shows the scene of Jesus ascending to heaven and Mary and the disciples looking on. The main account of the Ascension is found in Acts of the Apostles 1: 10-11

While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”. 

Above we can see the two men in white who appear in order to reassure the disciples after Christ has gone from their sight. These men can be seen on the left and the right  pointing to heaven and promising the Lord's return. Below we see Mary and the apostles.  Can you see St Peter who is the patron of the Cathedral.