International Fiesta

Worshippers leaving our morning Masses were treated to singing and drums from a group from Ecuador, directing them to our International Fiesta. Arranged by Fr Bednar in aid of our twin parish in Guayaquil, Ecuador, the celebrations featured the talents of many of the ethnic communities in our parish. Food, dance and singing reflected the diverse community of Westminster, and helped create a sense of parish among the crowds who attend the Cathedral.

With music and dancing in the Cathedral Hall, a large crowd gathered to enjoy the festival, and support Blessed Mother Theresa Parish, and their programme for feeding hungry children.

In the foreground of the festively bedecked Cathedral Hall stands Fr Augustine Hoey, while our sub-Administrator, Fr Christopher Tuckwell, can be glimpsed, Roman-senator fashion, in the background.

Vigil Mass, First Sunday of Advent

We welcomed Fr David Irwin, and his parishioners from St Peter-in-Chains, Stroud Green, to Mass this evening. It is always a delight to welcome parishes visiting the Cathedral.

Welcome to the Dean

This afternoon I had the privilege of attending the installation of the Very Reverend John Hall as Dean of Westminster. An important post for the Church of England, obviously, but also an important one for the Cathedral.

Relations between Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are strong, and have been characterised by warm friendships between successive Deans and Administrators. Situated close to each other in central London, it is natural for these two great churches to work together to bear witness to the Gospel together.

There is much that we can do at an official and unofficial level. On great occasions, the clergy and choir from either establishment travel down the road for formal services, while informal contacts are an important way of building fellowship and common cause.

Strangely enough, music has forged even closer links between Abbey and Cathedral, with a steady stream of talented musicians moving from one establishment to the other. The current Organist and Master of the Choristers at the Abbey, James O'Donnell, was previously Master of Music at the Cathedral; his successor here, Martin Baker, served as Organist at the Abbey - his successor there, Robert Quinney, was Assistant Master of Music here!

The new Dean has a background in Education, and served as Chief Educational Officer for the Church of England. Such a training will serve him well in communicating the gospel. We congratulate the Very Reverend John Hall, and assure him of our prayers, as we look forward to a fruitful collaboration in proclaiming our faith to the people of our city.

Flowers on the Sanctuary

A wonderful display of flowers at the High Altar, cheering up a dull December day.

Cleaning St Thomas

The marblework in St Thomas' Chapel (the Vaughan Chantry) is being cleaned, to provide a fitting counterpart to the newly installed mosaics. A plaque will be added to the floor of the chapel recording the interment of Cardinal Vaughan's body here last year.

Martyrs' Day

This is a day sacred to all those priests who studied at the Venerable English College in Rome: Martyrs' Day, when we commemorate those former students who died for their faith in 16th and 17th century England. According to a College tradition, when news of the death of a former student on the 'English Mission' was received in Rome, seminarians gathered in the Chapel before the Martyrs' Picture (above) to sing the Te Deum - the great hymn of praise to God.

The custom remains in Rome, where Mass in the College Church (above) today culminates in the Te Deum - and at various locations around England and Wales, where alumni gather to remember their martyrs, and their beloved College.

The Venerable English College boasts that it is the oldest English institution abroad. Founded as a Hospice for English pilgrims in 1362, it was converted into a seminary in 1576 by Pope Gregory XIII. Among its former students are many of the leaders of the Catholic community of England and Wales - both the first Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman, and the present, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, were rectors of the College.

'Old Romans' in London gather today at Tyburn Convent, near Marble Arch, commemorating nearby Tyburn gallows where many of the College martyrs suffered, most notably St Ralph Sherwin, whose feast it is today. He was the first of the seminary's students to suffer, famously declaring that he was ready to die "Hodie quam Cras" ('today, rather than tomorrow'). The celebrant at Mass will be Bishop Paul Hendrick, auxiliary in Southwark, and we shall retire afterwards for a hearty Italian meal at St Mary Moorfields.

Father, we celebrate the memory of the Martyrs of the Venerable English College who died for their faithful witnessing to Christ.
Give us strength to follow their example,
loyal and faithful to the end. Amen

From Drains to Domes

Paul Gilpin, centre, retires from the Cathedral today as Clerk of Works - he is pictured here at his farewell party in Clergy House with his colleagues Tom Botting and Bernie Young.

The Clerk of Works looks after the facric of the Cathedral at both large and small scale. In practice, this means everything from surveying rooves and repairing heating systems, to changing light bulbs or disengaging roller blinds! In a vast and old building such as ours, the task of maintenance never ceases, and the Clerk's role is vital. For four and a half years, Paul has undertaken this essential work with skill and humour, and has become a key member of the Cathedral family. We wish him every happiness in his retirement.