A PASTORAL LETTER

   FROM THE BISHOP OF LANCASTER

     FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE HOLY FAMILY

Appointed to be read at all weekend Public Masses in the Diocese of Lancaster, on the weekend of 28/29 December 2019My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Word truly became flesh and has dwelt among us. The image of the infant Christ, Son of God, son of Mary, is placed before us that we might know with confidence the Mystery of God’s love. Commercial Christmas is soon over; ours is not. We are given the Season of Christmastide – which we may legitimately extend to 2nd February, the Feast of the Presentation – as a time for staying with the Holy Family.It is a beautiful gift for each one of us and for the world. Let us take time, itself a gift, to reflect on how Our Lord came. He ‘took flesh’ within the womb of Our Blessed Lady. He literally ‘took flesh’ from her. This is how all unborn children grow. His life was completely dependent on her health and well-being. And Mary entrusted herself to St. Joseph, a worthy spouse, step-father and guardian of the Holy Family. Pray for young parents. Pray for unborn children. Undoubtedly, they were members of an extended family.The Genealogies of St. Luke and St. Matthew make us aware of grandparent figures. Details are lacking but we may imagine elderly members of the family taking an interest and being given a role in the up-bringing of this new Child. Imagine the concern caused by them having to flee to Egypt to escape harm. Imagine the joy at being reunited when eventually they returned, even though it was to Nazareth. These were the days long before any welfare state. Families were close; they had to be because there was no alternative. It is still the case in many parts of the world. In our own society family must still be seen as the primary place for care and education for life. Pray for extended families. Pray for those who work to support families that struggle. Marriage is of Divine institution. Christ raises it to the dignity of a Sacrament. It is a vocation, and for many, the way to heaven. A story is told of a young priest conducting a wedding ceremony. At the appropriate time he delivered a well prepared homily on the joy and bliss of marriage, emphasising the privilege of so intimately sharing in the Grace of Divine love, nothing less than Christ’s love for His Bride, the Church. During the homily, one elderly woman in the congregation turned to her neighbour and whispered, ‘my word, Ethel, I wish I knew as little about marriage as that young man seems to . . .’ Pray for those who must preach the truth of the Gospel. It is easy to mock the experience of marriage. It can be tempting to dismiss the Church’s teaching as too idealistic, no longer relevant in our complex times, particularly where suffering and misunderstanding are present. However, the young priest was doing the right thing in presenting the Christian teaching on marriage rather than ‘lowering the bar’ and presenting a merely human experience. Christian love is not an ideal but a reality. We are not ashamed to appear ‘old-fashioned’ in our religious practice and teachings. We will not abandon Christ’s teachings to follow secular novelties and fashions. Pray for those who have been hurt in marriage. Pray for those who work for healing in our marriage tribunals.

Pope Saint John Paul II noted how the family, a fundamental institution, is experiencing a radical and widespread crisis. He said that the Church cannot yield to cultural pressures, no matter how popular and even militant they may be. Pray for those who have fallen away from the practice of their Faith because of temptation.Whatever our experience of life, the Holy Family is there for us, somewhere to find shelter, acceptance and belonging. I pray this year for all grandparents. Yours is an indispensable role. You offer support and encouragement to young families. Your relationship with grandchildren gives them memories they will carry into their own later years. May your example and memory be amongst their richest inheritance, especially when the world’s riches leave them empty or unsatisfied. Let us pray for our grandparents.

Finally, this year we set ourselves to become more familiar with the God who speaks. Imitate Mary and Joseph, young mother and step-father, waiting eagerly to hear Jesus, the Divine Son, speak his first word. It would be a word that brought great joy to them. They would be quick to tell their relatives and neighbours, ‘He has spoken!’ As we approach the new year, may we also wait patiently for the Lord to speak to us, whoever we are, whatever our circumstances and needs.I encourage you to attend Mass on New Year’s Day if possible, it is an opportunity to begin the year by listening to the Word. He has a word for each of us. It will bring us comfort and hope.

With my prayers for you and your families as we prepare for the new year,

+Paul

Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster

My dear friends in Jesus Christ!

Welcome to the Bishop’s Blog!

As we listen to the news and as we look around at our world it is very clear that we need a Saviour. The Good News is that we have one, the only One who can effectively save us from all that would take life from us. Jesus Christ, Son of God, son of Mary! Let us not be blind to all those small efforts made by so many individuals, helping to share love, bring hope, lighten the burdens of loneliness and trying to bring healing to those whose lives are broken. The needs are so great. No sooner have we achieved a little progress than some new crisis appears. It may be personal or global or anywhere in between. Let us not be too proud to ask for help. Even the strongest people have their limits, but the love of God is limitless. Light, Hope, Joy, Peace come from Him. Let us see our poverty so that we can receive His riches. They are gifts that will not fail or fade. With Christ by our side, the future is bright, and the present full of consolation, and the past is blessed because it has enabled us to reach this moment of His Grace.My thoughts and prayers extend to embrace each of you, and particularly those who are experiencing heavy burdens at this time. May you have a Holy and Peaceful Christmas as you sense the gift of God’s Love, found in the Babe of Bethlehem.

+Paul

Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster

My dear friends in Jesus Christ,

Welcome to the Bishop’s Blog!The Holy Season of Advent is itself a door to the Great Feast of the Word becoming flesh for our salvation. Amongst many other events, a number of events involving schools are worth mention. Radiant at Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Preston was a vibrant, well-attended day focusing on the gift of the Eucharist.Over 200 were present for the day which included catechesis, prayer, personal stories of growth in Faith, opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The day ended with Holy Mass.Two days later I was invited to Carlisle to formally bless the foundation stone for Newman Catholic High School. Full media coverage was on hand. What a momentous stage for the school to reach. For the past four years the school has operated out of a temporary site. Within a year they will be permanently settled in this new building. My gratitude goes to all who have worked tirelessly to enable us to reach this point.A class from Holy Family Primary School, Blackpool came to visit the Cathedral in Lancaster on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.They were a joy to be with! Fr. Pearson gave them a guided tour, explaining why the Cathedral is different from other churches in the Diocese. Just before the children headed home they were shown into the Bishop’s office, to see the portrait of all the former Bishops of Lancaster Diocese.Earlier this week I made my first visit to cardinal Newman Sixth Form College in Preston. It was an informal visit simply to meet the Principal, Nick Burnham, together with the Chaplain and senior staff. The visit was tinged with a certain degree of emotion. Mum went to Lark Hill Convent School in the 1930s. My three sisters were also pupils there in the 60s and 70s. I believe a Father Swarbrick who originated in the Garstang area was a key player in the founding of the school back in the 19th century.All these activities were evidence that we are trying to carry the tradition of our Catholic Faith forward in these extra-ordinary times. Advent speaks of Light, Hope, Joy and Peace found in Christ. It also teaches us that life is a gift and has a direction, a destination. Once we recognize and accept a gift we must thank the Giver of the gift.May these remaining days of Advent continue to enrich you with the promise of eternal gifts.

+Paul

Paul Swarbrick

Bishop of Lancaster