A busy weekend - Chairs, Tables, Grub and Mugs

Saturday we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St Peter - its not the chair, but what it represents, the authority given to Peter and his successors. 
Why not visit our Year of Faith timeline to see some of Peter's successors.
Colouring page of the Chair of St Peter

Sunday we have a table top sale from 11.00am
Future Table Top sales are on 30th March, 25th May and 29th June, if you would like to book a table for next time then please ring Cathedral Office 384820

Gospel and Grub

Confirmation Group will be doing creative things with mugs!!

My Story

Filming Bishop Michael Campbell's story

Bishop Michael Campbell OSA
meeting Pope Francis

Last Thursday some of our young people interviewed Bishop Michael Campbell as part of the European funded project My Story, which brings young people together with older adults who share their story.  We'll be sharing the video when its finished and learning more about when the Bishop met Pope Francis.  

Other My Story Films
Sr Zela Proctor and Sr Maureen Coyne have both shared their stories as part of the My Story Project. 
To find out which one escaped from the Japanese and which one's story is title a dedication to faith follow the links.  

Confirmation: St Peter's Way begins

Last Sunday saw the start of the confirmation programme St Peter's Way.  A group of young people have started the journey of exploring their faith and preparing for the sacrament of confirmation which they will receive on Sunday 8th June at the Feast of Pentecost with other young people from the deanery.  For more information about the programme see Confirmation Tab.

Confirmandi checking out the Martyrs Map of those
who have died for their faith since 2000

We'll be sharing news of their journey on the parish blog and the new facebook page Lancaster Cathedral Young People which will share news about events in the parish and diocese which may be of interest.    

Sacramental Preparation: My Lord and My God

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes who is one of the diocesan patrons.  It is also the start of the Sacramental Programme My Lord and My God.  Adults gathered together to talk about their image of God and that of their child.  We shared about where we get our images of God and how they help us in prayer. 

Above the Window of the Assumption

Fr Stewart talked about the Trinity and the power of the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit and reminded us of how many of the prayers of the Mass mention the three persons of the Trinity.  An Cathedral image we didn't share, but one that has a Marian connection, featured in a post in the original Lancaster Cathedral Blog, for more information. The crown being offered to Mary, a human being, reminds us all of an important truth: the one God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - calls us to share His life and His glory in heaven.
Prayers in everyday life
Later in the evening we talked about how we might use everyday objects and events as a basis for prayers.  We hope to share ideas from the group over the coming weeks and welcome photos and ideas from readers.  

Let your light shine

Children showing how they will let their light shine

At children's liturgy the children thought about how they could follow Jesus' message from today's reading and let their light shine.  We sang 'this little light of mine' and shared ways in which we could share God's love. The corporal acts of mercy are ways we can help our neighbour with the things they need. 

Corporal Acts of Mercy

• feed the hungry
• shelter the homeless
• clothe the naked
• visit the sick and imprisoned
• bury the dead
• give alms to the poor

In the parish we have the SVP who help those in need and many parishioners have been helping the homeless by bringing things for Christchurch Emergency Night shelter.

Chinese Cockle Pickers

Sun setting over Morecambe Bay

Today is ten years since the tragedy of the twenty Chinese Cockle pickers who died in Morecambe Bay.  We remember them and their families at this time.  
At the memorial service held 3 weeks later at St Peter's Cathedral, nearly a 1,000 people attended to remember and show their support.  At the start of the service they were invited by a member of the Chinese community to "Let peace return, let hope begin" and Bishop Patrick Kelly from Liverpool who joined Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue and other faith leaders closed his homily by saying he hoped for  "A beautiful sunset, for each and every person at the moment of their death, over Morecambe's glorious bay."  For an account of the service.

Poem in memory of the Chinese Cockle Pickers 

Candle Mass

Candles Blessed at the start of Mass

Today we celebrated the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This morning pupils from the Cathedral Primary School dramatised Gospel with Mary and Joseph coming to present their son Jesus at the Temple. Simeon who had waited all his life for the Saviour sings his song of praise that is prayed in the Night Prayer of the Church.

Nunc Dimitis - Song of Simeon

Fr Stweart Keeley

Left, Fr Stewart in the darkness lit only by candle light at the start of the evening mass, 
Below, the candles of the congregation shining out in the darkness. powerful reminders that Jesus is the Light of the World, who has come to save all nations.

Candles in the congregation