Abp Bernard receives the pallium

How exciting. Our Archbishop, Bernard Longley, has received the Pallium from HH Benedict XVI. You can see him in this video at 1:36, but watch it all - there are other faces to spot!

The Installation

St Chad's New Archbishop 8th December 2009 from AstonVision on Vimeo.

Thanks, Jackie, loved watching this!

Agnes and Agnus

Today, at Mass, we prayed for our new Archbishop, Bernard, on the feast of St Agnes. Archbishop Bernard will receive the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI on the feast of Ss Peter and Paul later this year. As his predecessor, Archbishop Vincent, did last summer for Westminster.

We recalled that we are the lambs of Bernard, as it were.

Archbishop Bernard Longley

credit Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk

Some fabulous photographs of the Installation, here. Well worth a look on flickr.com. My favourite is the one above, though the first in the series is really good, too. Shows from whence comes the Archbishop's assistance!

Archbishop Bernard Longley

Having just returned from the Installation of our new Archbishop, I wanted to share with you the contents of the Apostolic Letter from HH Benedict XVI. I also note that ICN already have the Archbishop's homily, which was very good, here. It was a wonderful liturgy and, whilst it's not the first Installation of an Archbishop to which I have been invited, it was very much better than the last one. Then again, it has to be said, the last was in Valladolid and was primarily in Spanish! The BBC are covering the Installation, here. The Birmingham Post, here.

Archbishop Bernard ended his homily by asking us to continue to pray for him, and we do.

May I join my voice to the many and say welcome, Your Grace.

Benedict

Bishop of Rome

Servant of the servants of God

Do hereby send our greetings and Apostolic Blessing to our venerable brother in the episcopate, Bernard Longley, who was until now titular Bishop of Zarna and auxiliary Bishop in Westminster, and who from now is translated to the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Given that our venerable brother, Vincent Gerard Nichols, has been appointed Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Westminster; it falls to us as Successor of Saint Peter and Universal Father, to make suitable provision for the vacant Metropolitan See of Birmingham.

It seems proper to us that you, Bernard, taking account of your evident gifts, and their expert and pastoral exercise, are suitable to be appointed as head of this See.

As you are now relieved from the obligations and functions of Auxiliary Bishop and of the titular See of Zarna, and in deliberation with the Congregation of Bishops, we name you by our Supreme Apostolic Authority as Metropolitan Archbishop of Birmingham, with all the rights and obligations that entails.

We entrust you to make these letters known to the clergy and people of the Archdiocese and we exhort them to receive you with goodwill and fidelity.

Above all, venerable brother, we pray that the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, with His richest Gifts, be with you to assist you. With such assistance, may you so shepherd the faithful entrusted to your care that they are unceasing in prayer, in listening to the Word of God, in carrying out works of mercy and in receiving the sacraments, above all the Sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, which in the words of Saint John Chrysostom is the sacrament that binds us one to another in Christ.

May the Peace of Christ and the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be always with you, together with your auxiliary bishops, and with this esteemed ecclesiastical community of Birmingham, which is most dear to us.

Given at Saint Peter’s, Rome, on the First Day of October, in the Year of Our Lord 2009, the fifth of Our Pontificate.

Benedict XVI,

Supreme Pontiff

Mary and Bernard

Today, we celebrate one of the patronal feasts of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Is there a better day for the Installation of our ninth Archbishop? All week in the parish we have been keeping a novena of prayer for Bishop Bernard (soon to be Arch) which ends on this most auspicious day. Please do join us in prayer:

Almighty and eternal God, from the highest heavens you sent your Son among us to teach us and guide us: we earnestly pray that this your servant, Bernard, to whom you have given the fullness of priesthood, may grow in humility as he approaches the chair of his office. Let him come among us as one who serves, and make his heart the throne of your Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Father, you prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

Is Ruth Gledhill correct?

Ruth Gledhill is saying "Tomorrow the Holy See will name Bishop Bernard Longley as the new Archbishop of Birmingham."

I wonder.... good news, so far as I'm concerned.

Chrism Mass

Just back from the Chrism Mass with Archbishop Vincent, his last and my first as a cleric, with Birmingham. I was reflecting, that it is, probably, my favourite of all Masses at the Cathedral. I love the Vigil, but for me, at least, that is better celebrated in a parish setting. However, the Chrism, with the wonder of over 200 priests and a packed Cathedral. When the final doxology is sung, it gets me every time. You just can't beat the it.

This year, His Grace preached very well indeed on prayer together with some reflections on the strengths of the diocese. It was good to hear his words. Given that he was a stranger to the diocese, one might say that he has a disinterested view of what he has come to love about our diocese. Certainly, he spoke with sincerity, warmth and not a little sadness at leaving us. Someone said to me, "it must be a daunting task, taking Westminster at 63!" and you know he's quite right. When most people in this country would be turning their mind to firming up retirement plans, here is Archbishop Vincent taking on more and more. Good luck to you, Your Grace. You have my prayers and support.

There were many aspects of the Mass which moved me deeply, but if I may mention just two (to paraphrase +Vincent) it was the first reader (who I am reliably informed is Head of RE in a Catholic school) and Mike Stanley starting off the responsorial. In the first instance, the intonation of the reading was perfect. I really, really felt it was the Lord speaking, such that when she said, This is the Word of the Lord, I was tempted to respond, indeed, it is! Thank you God for such great liturgy that the appropriate response is Thanks be to God. In the second instance, Mike hit his note right on the nose; solo in the cathedral and with the inevitable practice that there must have been and no accompaniment - perfect. What was so good, in my mind at least, was that it was only on reflection that I was struck it was Mike's skill and ability which had made this moment so spiritual. At the time I was just struck with the awe of God's almighty word.

So, Liturgy of the Word, leading to prayer, just as you would want in the perfect Mass. A happy deacon!