We bow to the cross ...

Before and after Mass the altar servers bow to the cross, a reminder of who we follow and a moment of prayer before they are about to serve the Lord during Mass. 

Altar servers bowing to the cross in the sacristy

Over the passed few weeks our servers have been trained for their new role.  We are fortunate in having our MC Kirsten who plays an important role in helping to make sure servers not only know what to do but also why they do things in certain ways.  Our new servers have also been helped by a number of other altar servers who have gained in experience over the years and are able to help the new comers. 

The Feast of Christ the King

This Sunday is also a special day of prayer and focus upon younger Catholics (Youth Sunday). In today's children's liturgy the children talked about the jewels of God's Kingdom, love, joy, peace and hope and instead of decorating their crowns with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, they decorated them with God's gifts to us and gifts we can share with each other.

Children wearing their crowns for God's Kingdom with jewels of
Love, Peace, Joy and Hope.

Throughout the mass our young people helped to welcome, take up the offertory and for some it was their first time serving on the altar.  More from our new altar servers in the week.

Feast of Christ the King, is also the final Sunday in the Church’s Year.

The feast of Christ the King was added to the calendar of the faith in 1922 after Pope Pius XI issued his first encyclical (which is a letter from the Pope to all the Bishops) Ubi arcano Dei consilio in December 1922.

Writing after World War I, Pius noted that while the war and fighting across Europe had stopped, there was no true peace. He spoke out against all divisions between people and said that true peace can only be found under the Kingship of Christ as "Prince of Peace". 

"For Jesus Christ reigns over the minds of individuals by His teachings, in their hearts by His love, in each one's life by the living according to His law and the imitating of His example."

Until 1970 we celebrated this feast on the Last Sunday of October but the calendar and missal of Pope Paul VI (1970) moved it to the final Sunday of the Church’s Year (34th Sunday) and gave it that sense of Christ being the fulfilment of The Father’s plan of salvation. 

Thank you for your service

There are many people within the parish who helped to make the First Holy Communion Mass a really special occasion. Our prayers and thanks to all who helped to make the day special. Fr Steve who celebrated mass and was joined at Communion by Fr Andrew, the servers who did an excellent service and set a wonderful example for future servers, to our readers, two of the many who read each week to help us hear God's Word, to siblings of our first communicants who brought up the offertory.  To Damian and the choristers who sang during Mass, Josie who welcomed parishioners as they arrived, Gerry who took the photographs, Jane and Catherine who had prepared the flowers, Claire our sacristan, Caroline and Clemmie who set up extra chairs as well as their working all weekend for the Art exhibition for Aid to the Church in Need. 

How many services within this one picture?
Priest, servers, offertory procession, catechist, sacristan, florist and photographer!

Last but not least thank you to all the catechists who all had roles on the day but have also shared their faith and helped the parents and families as they prepared their children to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. 

Holy Communion Catechist Team 2017

Fr Steve writes: I also wish to express my (our) deep gratitude to the Catechists who have helped to prepare them, and our Confirmation candidates, for these recent celebrations. The Catechists give of their faith, time and effort on behalf of our community so that people are well prepared for these milestones in their lives of faith. Thank you to all of them for hard work faithfully delivered. Fr Steve

OLCC Uganda 16

Poster with details of the Uganda 16 project

One of our familiar faces -
sharing news of the Uganda 16 project 

Last Sunday, one of our altar servers and a student at Our Lady's Catholic College explained with Mrs Monaghan about this year's trip to Uganda.  The first trip was in 2014 and there have already been lots of benefits.  This year the school have gained financial support from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the school have been fund raising to buy Chemistry resources and support the delivery of workshops that will be led by the OLCC students and staff.

Students at the school are making a DVD of life here in the UK, and will be making a video of their time in Uganda which we hope they will be able to share with us on their return.  
Thank you 

Students and staff of the OLCC Uganda16 Schools' Project would like to thank parishioners for the warm welcome and generous support shown to us last weekend. The total for the collections was £551. This contribution will make a big difference to our partner schools in Uganda.

Altar Server Training

Our altar servers do an excellent job and we are looking for new members to join the team. Any child, primary or secondary school age, who has made their First Holy Communion, is eligible. (Adults, too!) Training sessions will start on the 18th October. 

This is just one of the many ways in which we can serve the parish community. 

If you are interested please see one of the priests.

Friday Photos of Faith - People of Faith

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints - those Saints we are named after, take as our Confirmation name from, those who are patrons of our Church, or our hobbies and interests.  Today we celebrate and remember those saints known and unknown.  The day was chosen by Pope Gregory III in 731-741 when he consecrated  a chapel in the Basilica of St Peter to all the saints.  We remember the saints when we say the Creed 'I believe ... the Holy Catholic Church and Communion of Saints.

Altar server clearing awaay after Mass

Today one of our new servers helped Fr Stewart during Mass.  Here he is clearing away after Mass, learning about some of the preparation and clearing away that is part of the role of server.

"There is a lot to remember - so you really have to watch carefully"








A busy weekend ahead
Feast of All Souls
The 12.15 mass will be offered for all those who have died in the past year. 
Eternal Rest
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

First Saturday Rosary
Tomorrow we have the first Saturday Rosary at 5.15pm in the Cathedral.  To read more about the Rosary which was object 52 in the Year of Faith and how Mary shows the way.

Shoebox Appeal - Last few days for collection
Boxes can be left at Cathedral House or Cathedral School and need to be dropped off by Monday 11^th November in time for collection around 15^th November

Box for collection at the back of church

St Vicent de Paul Meeting 
Monday 4th November at 7.00pm in Cathedral House.  New members welcome.  To read more about the SVP and how they offer a helping hand.  If you know of someone who is need of help, let one of the members know. 

New Start

Stephen carrying the cross at 6.30pm Mass 

Stephen talking to parishioners

At the weekend Stephen Talbutt who shared news of his plans to go to seminary in a recent Wednesday Word of Witness attended his last Mass before going away. Stephen is like many who will be starting a new phase of their life.  We remember our teachers who are getting ready for the start of the academic year and all those pupils who are getting ready to move to a new class or new school.  Parents, grandparents and carers will also be getting ready for a change after their summer holiday routine.  In a few weeks those going to university will be moving away to study in other parts of the country and students studying at Lancaster or Cumbria Universities will be returning to Lancaster after being away for the summer.  

Vocations 8: Seminarians

For Seminarians
Let us pray for those who are preparing for priestly ministry - that the Lord may help them to grow in faith and love as they seek to devote their lives to His service.

The Lancaster Vocations website includes details of seminarians around the diocese and a photo of UK seminarians with the Pope in 2010.   At the moment we have two seminarians with a direct link to the parish.  

Daniel Etienne (left) - who is preparing for priesthood in Rome and served during Mass whilst he was studying at Lancaster University for his degree.  Here he is serving Pope Benedict XVI


Andrew Bolser (right) who visited from the American College last summer and over Easter where he got involved in all the events of the Triduum.  

Going about in pairs

Peace to this house

Welcome to our home

Come in and tell us more Good News

To share the Gospel, children attending children's liturgy were sent out in pairs to visit other children who played the home owners.   The pairs visited a group and followed Jesus' instructions saying 'Peace to this house' and were welcomed by others who invited them in for tea! 

Server Training 

Servers learning to genuflect in pairs

Our pair theme continued after Mass, when Kirsten, 'Master of Ceremonies' started training some of our young parishioners to become servers.  With some experienced servers on hand to help, the new servers were asked to watch their partner and genuflect together.  More about altar serving next week.  If there are any young parishioners who have made their first Holy Communion who would like to become a server then they should join Kirsten after 10.30 Mass next week.

WWW: Called to serve

This week our Wednesday Word of Witness comes from Kirsten, who is the 'Master of Ceremonies' at the Cathedral. To learn more about being a server click here.  This week we are looking at the medal of St Stephen, patron saint of servers on the Cathedral Year of Faith blog, click here to find more.  

I started serving at the altar about seven years ago.  I was asked to help supervise children as they learned to serve but I had not expected to become a server myself.  During the last training session, I had an over-riding desire to become a server and felt that I had been ‘called’ to this ministry.  A year later, I became Master of Ceremonies here at the Cathedral.  This position demands commitment, reverence, leadership and good team work skills.  I love serving!  I serve for the people of the parish, for the priests, for the bishop, for the servers, for you, but, most of all, for God.  Each time I serve, I offer myself to God Almighty and I always do my best, with reverence and understanding.  In my role as Master of Ceremonies, I organise the servers, giving them jobs, directions, training and guidance to ensure that the Mass runs smoothly.  I also serve at Vespers on Sundays; this is a very special time when Jesus Christ, under the appearance of the consecrated host, is exposed and adored.

Kirsten training new servers
click here for an earlier post on learning to use the thurible

Serving is a ministry which I find fulfilling and inspiring.  I hope that I can lead by example and that many more people will be inspired by all of our Altar Servers and may even like to join our team.  It is a privilege to be a part of the life of the Church and to serve at the altar of God.  Kirsten Grove

Our thanks to all those who have served in the past, to those who currently serve and those who may respond to this calling to serve in the future.  

Ordination: Fr John Millar

Priests by sacred ordination and the mission which they receive from the bishops are promoted to the service of Christ the Teacher, Priest and King. They share in his ministry, a ministry whereby the Church here on earth is unceasingly built up into the People of God, the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit                                 Pope Paul VI from Presbyterorum Ordinis, 1965

Today the Diocese gathered together to celebrate John's ordination.  We hope to share more memories of this special day in future posts, but today we include images of some of the many people who helped to make the day a special one.

Familiar Faces
There were some familiar faces for members of the Cathedral Parish: Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue who had accepted John to seminary, Fr Andrew Allman who was ordained at the Cathedral where he was priest before moving to be hospital chaplain of Blackpool Victoria and Diocesan Vocations Director, and Daniel Etienne who read the 2nd reading and was a regular server at the Cathedral before he began his only journey to explore his vocation to priesthood at seminary in Rome.

Bishop Michael Campbell, present Bishop of Lancaster sitting in Cathedra
Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue, former Bishop of Lancaster

Our own Fr Stewart Keeley was Master of Ceremonies, he was helped by Cathedral servers who were joined by servers from St Joseph's where John has been living and working for the last year. 

The Hilton family all serve at St Joseph's and although they have 60 years and 6 months experience between them they still found it a great experience to serve at the Cathedral.  Like so many others who helped to make this a special day they came to practice earlier in the week, however, as they explained, "its not quite the same when all the priests and people are there!".

James, met John when he was a pupil at Our Lady's Catholic College, Lancaster.  He helped by welcoming the congregation and is seen here after the Mass of ordination holding one of the service booklets.

As Bishop Michael Campbell thanked everyone who had helped to make this a memorable day in the life of the Diocese. We add our thanks too, for all who have given of their gifts and talents to help make everything go well, especially those behind the scenes. Just before the final blessing, Bishop Campbell said that he hoped the day would be an encouragement for others to respond to the calling to be a priest.  For more information about Diocesan vocations click here

Prayer for vocations
At the start of the week we shared news of a Monastic Weekend at Hyning Monastry.  As we remember John as he begins his ministry as priest, we remember all those who are seeking to hear where the Lord may be calling them. 

Servers - behind the scenes

Tidying up

Tidying up
A behind the scenes look at where all the Altar Servers get changed.  Here are three of the older servers sorting out cassocks (coloured vestment) and cottas (white, square necked outer garment). 

Learning how to use the thurible

Learning to use the thurible.
The thurifer is the altar server who carries the thurible, which is a metal container for the incense.  A burning piece of charcoal is put inside and then during the Mass, incense is added and the smoke that comes up reminds us of our prayers going up to God.  


After mass, altar servers talk about how to use the thurible.  Did you know that there are different types of swings - treble, double and single?  More news from the thurifers next term.  

St Stephen's Medals for our servers

Over the weekend some of our servers received their St Stephen medal for their commitment to being a server.  We thank all servers and their families who support them in fulfilling this important service to our parish.  Below is a photograph of those receiving their medal at the 6.30pm Sunday evening mass.

 See our Server page for a close up of the medal and for details about how to become a server.

After Mass, Kirsten continued with some training for our new servers.  Like so many acts of service there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes.  see our earlier entry about why some young people are attracted to serving.

Getting ready to serve

On Sunday two new servers came and began their training to take up this ministry. Kirsten showed them how to genuflect which is something we should all do when we pass in front of the Blessed Sacrament and altar.  Watch how well the servers do this next time at Mass.

When asked why they would like to be a server they said:

"I want to be a server so I have something to do
during Mass"

"It looked fun and I wanted to a part of Mass, I wanted to be able to join in"

We had a lovely photo of them trying to genuflect together, sadly this has been deleted! Sorry girls.   

Cathedral Parish Family Blog

Welcome to the new Cathedral Parish Family blog provides information about parish activities relating to:

• the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation

• Children's Liturgy of the Word at St Peter's and St Thomas More's
• Servers and information about serving at Mass
• Impact - parish youth group for young people in year 9 and above
• other parish family activities