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Lancaster Cathedral

an oasis of calm in the heart of the City

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Daily Mass Celebrated
Monday - Friday at 12:15 pm
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The Bishop's Chair
Cathedra (Chair)
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The Mother Church of the Diocese of Lancaster

Reaching out to the City and to the World

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Always Open for Prayer ...
... And Praise!
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St Thomas More Church

Sunday Mass at 9:00 am

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Ninth Bishop of Lancaster

Bishop Paul Swarbrick

As we know, the sacraments are outward signs of inward spiritual
gifts that God gives to His people. The sacrament of Holy Orders is
an important one not just for those who receive it but for the
whole Church because it is there precisely to be at the service of
the Christian people.


Next week we celebrate the ordination of our deacon Simon
Marley as a priest. The sacrament of ordination consists of three
grades (bishop priest, deacon), each of which makes the recipient
able to represent Christ in a specific way in service of the people.
These three grades fulfil the Old Testament figures of High Priest,
priest and levite. Deacons are ordained to proclaim the Gospel, to
minister at the altar and witness to Christ as servant of all. Priests
are ordained to offer sacrifice (the Mass) and to forgive sins (in
confession and anointing of the sick). They are an image as Christ
the High Priest who intercedes for His people and Christ the Good
Shepherd who cares for and nourishes them. Bishops are
consecrated to confer the sacraments of ordination and
confirmation. They are tasked with the role of teacher of the faith
and shepherd of the flock over which they are called to rule in
gentleness and love.
The ordination of a priest is a moment of joy for the whole Church
as Christ sends His people a new minister of the Gospel and the
Sacraments. Without the priest there is no Mass, without the Mass
there is no Church. The gift of a new priest from God is a sign of
hope for the Church.
The ordination takes place during the celebration of Mass. The
bishop questions the candidate who makes promises to serve
faithfully as a priest. The litany of saints is sung to invoke their
intercession before this sacrament is conferred. The person is
ordained by the laying on of hands of the bishop and all priests
present, as it has been done since the time of the apostles, and by
reciting a prayer of consecration. After he is ordained the new
priest is clothed in the distinctive vestments of the priest. His hands
are anointed with oil, consecrating them so that he might use them
to bless others. He is presented with the chalice and paten then for
the celebration of Mass. Finally the newly ordained priest
concelebrates Mass with the bishop for the first time.
The ordination next week (Saturday 19th October at 1pm) is
open to all and is a wonderful experience for those who have never
been to one before.
On the day following his ordination the new priest will celebrate
Mass for the first time. This is a moment of special joy for him, his
family and friends. We are fortunate that Simon will celebrate
his first Mass at our 10.30 Mass on 20th October. Please make a
special effort to come. After the Mass the new priest will give out
his first blessings.

“The priesthood is the love of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus”
St John Marie Vianney
Patron Saint of Parish Priests