A few final words

We noted earlier that the Papal Nuncio spoke at the end of Mass and that Bishop Roche read a message from Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor. Before that, however, there was an opportunity for Bishop Patrick to address the Diocese one final time. After thanking Bishop Michael for the opportunity to speak, Bishop Patrick spoke of people who were important to him: his family, whom he thanked for their great support, and the late Cardinal Basil Hume, who had been a close friend, received special mention.

Bishop Patrick spoke of his time in Lancaster and how great things had been achieved by working together: the reform of educational programmes in primary schools, a marked improvement in the Diocese's financial situation, the opening of the UK's first Cenacolo Community and the success of the 'Fit for Mission?' initiative were among the work that received special mention.

The Bishop finished by reminding us of something which has been a key message of his time in Lancaster: we all have a duty to preach the Gospel. He reminded us of the words spoken after the baptismal profession of faith: "This is our faith; this is the faith of the Church, and we are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord." It was a fitting finale from a bishop who has always been proud to profess the Catholic faith during his time with us. You can read the full text of Bishop Patrick's words on the diocesan website, here.

The Liturgy of the Eucharist

The Church is assembled around the Lord's altar: our diocesan Bishop, together with brother Bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful. Representatives of almost every parish in the Diocese were present.

Some young members of Bishop O'Donoghue's family brought forward the gifts to be used for the celebration of Mass.

Here, the deacons prepare the gifts while two altar servers look on. The servers were exceptional at this Mass, and their ability is testimony to the work they do all year round. Week by week, they develop the skills and confidence they need to serve with dignity and reverence at larger occasions such as this.

Bishop Emeritus Patrick O'Donoghue stood close to the altar; Cardinal O'Brien is seen looking on.

For the last year we have been used to hearing the words, "Patrick and Michael, our Bishops" during the Eucharistic Prayer. From this Mass only Bishop Michael's name is used; or, when the Bishop himself says the words as on this occasion, he prays for "me, your unworthy servant." The naming of the Pope and Bishop is not just because we pray for them; it also reminds us that it is through the Bishop, in union with the Pope, that the worldwide communion of the Church is preserved.

For the distribution of Holy Communion, Bishop Campbell and Bishop O'Donoghue were assisted by Bishop Brian Noble (Shrewsbury) and Bishop Artur Roche (Leeds). After the hymn the choir sang a setting of Psalm 116(117) by Camille Saint-Saëns. A number of people, including Bishops Michael and Patrick, commented on how well the choir sang; again, it is because of hard work all year round that the choir were able to sing so well.

A statement of intent

After the homily (and, again, following texts used when Bishop Brewer took charge of the Diocese in 1985) questions were asked of the Bishop, who in turn asked for a statement of intent from the assembled clergy, religious and lay faithful.

The Bishop remained seated throughout, with his crozier in hand. This short series of questions replaced the intercessions.

Presently there is no Provost of the Cathedral Chapter (Bishop Campbell himself had filled the role), so questions were asked of him by Canon Mulvany, the longest-serving member of the Chapter. The Canons gathered with him as he asked the Bishop about his intention to be faithful to the Apostolic Tradition of the Church, to guide the people and to lead the Diocese in prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist.

Then Bishop Campbell asked the clergy about their intention to work with him, reminding them that he relies on their co-operation; he asked the religious to continue to be faithful witnesses by living their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; finally, he asked all the faithful of the Diocese to join with him in the shared mission of preaching the Gospel in our daily lives.

The Liturgy of the Word

With Bishop Campbell having taken his seat and now presiding over the Diocese, Mass continued in the usual way.

The scripture readings were read by members of Bishop O'Donoghue's family. The first reading (Revelation 21:1-7) was chosen because it includes Bishop Campbell's motto; the second reading (1 Peter 5:1-4) provided some advice for leaders of the Church.

The Gospel reading (Matthew 28:16-20) proclaimed Jesus' command to preach the Gospel to all nations, a command as relevant today as it ever has been.

In his homily, Bishop Campbell spoke of the office of bishop as a visible sign of the Lord's care for His people: "The risen Lord stands powerful and active in the midst of his people, caring and providing for them as the Good Shepherd. As the Diocese of Lancaster marks another milestone in its history with the inauguration of a new bishop, I invite you to join me in giving thanks this evening to Christ who has called me to be your chief shepherd and pastor."

Speaking of the contribution made by Bishop Patrick, Bishop Michael said, "It is only right that we should acknowledge the debt we owe to those who have gone before us, and this evening I would like to thank Bishop O’Donoghue for his dedication and total commitment as Bishop of Lancaster over the last eight years. Bishop Patrick has not spared himself in thoroughgoing Episcopal service to the diocese. We thank God for his faithful ministry and wish him a well-earned retirement."

Looking beyond our current time and location, the Bishop spoke of our worldwide unity: "The bishop of the diocese, as a successor of the apostles, represents the living link with the college of bishops throughout the world, under the guidance of Peter’s successor, Pope Benedict XVI, and with the universal Church. We in the diocese of Lancaster need to remember, therefore, that while we are indeed the Church of Christ in this place, we are also part of the universal Church." He also recalled the example of our local martyrs. In conclusion, the Bishop offered encouragement: "Drawing a lesson the scene on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus was fast asleep in the boat while the disciples were panic-stricken in the face of the storm, Saint Augustine of Hippo urged his hearers to waken and rouse up in faith the Christ who sleeps in their hearts. He will calm the waves and restore tranquillity. As the Diocese of Lancaster moves into a new phase in its history, it is with that same faith in the risen Christ that we do so. In our great and small efforts God is calling us to be cooperators in his work of the new creation. The One who has called us to do this will not fail us. Amen." The full text of the Bishop's homily can be found on the Diocesan Website (pdf format): click here.

The Beginning of Mass

Slightly out of sequence, here are a few more pictures of the procession, the handover of the crozier and the opening of Mass. A word of thanks is due to our photographers, Andrew Jotischky and James Cowell, for their work. Above, the tail end of the procession enters the Cathedral, with the Nuncio and Cardinal adding some extra colour.

Bishop Patrick, at the back of the procession, still carries the crozier.

At the foot of the steps, it remains for just the two bishops and the deacons to take their places.

Having taken his seat, Bishop Campbell receives the diocesan crozier. The crozier is a symbol of his pastoral office, while the cathedra symbolises his teaching authority. The entire role of the Bishop is in some way expresses as he is seated, vested for Mass, with the crozier in hand.

After the handover, Mass begins as normal. Bishop Michael and Bishop Patrick reverenced the altar together before Bishop Patrick took his seat alongside the visiting bishops.

Bishop Campbell then incensed the altar. As he did so the choir sang "Ecce nova facio omnia" - "Behold, I make all things new" (Revelation 21:5). The text is the motto of our new Bishop, and the musical setting was written especially for his ordination last year. Over the coming days we will follow the Mass in chronological order; tomorrow we look at the Liturgy of the Word.

Handing over the Diocese

The word 'bishop' comes from the Greek meaning 'overseer' and so some of the carved heads which look down on the Cathedral give an image of the episcopate: bishops need to keep everyone in view! After nearly eight years of oversight of the Diocese of Lancaster, Bishop Patrick handed the responsibility to his successor at the beginning of Friday's Mass.

The clergy entered the Cathedral as usual: deacons behind the altar servers, then priests and bishops, with Bishop Michael just ahead of Bishop Patrick at the end of the procession. Bishop Patrick carried the crozier, an important symbol of the Bishop's role as shepherd of the Diocese.

At the foot of the sanctuary steps the Bishops paused side-by-side before proceeding. Bishop Patrick then led Bishop Michael to the Cathedra - the symbol of the Bishop's teaching authority.

At the cathedra Bishop Patrick spoke, "Bishop Michael, at the wish of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI you now assume from me the pastoral charge of the Diocese of Lancaster. With confidence and trust I hand you this crozier as a sign of the shepherd's office. May the Lord sustain you in this office which is entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit for the service of the Church of God. Dear people of God, I present to you your Bishop."

The new Bishop of Lancaster responded, "Humbly but willingly I accept this pastoral office entrusted to me by our Lord Jesus Christ through His Vicar on earth, Pope Benedict XVI. With the help of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and the co-operation of my priests, I will, in the person of Christ, guide and serve the people of this Diocese of Lancaster, preach the Gospel and celebrate the Eucharist." The texts for the handover were the same as those used when Bishop John Brewer took over from Bishop Brian Foley in May 1985.

So it was that at the end of the Mass it was Bishop Campbell who held the crozier and the great responsibility of leading the Diocese of Lancaster. More pictures will follow over the coming days, so be sure to call back. Meanwhile, you can find out a little more about the Diocesan crozier on Billington's Blog, here.

The Assembled Church

Seated in the cathedra, the sixth Bishop of Lancaster presides over a gathering of the Church. Surprisingly, it was the first occasion on which Bishop Campbell had been principal celebrant at Mass in the Cathedral since his ordination last March. It's about to become a much more frequent event: the Bishop is due to preside at Mass in the Cathedral no fewer than five times this month. Also seen in the picture above is Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, making his second visit to the Cathedral.

Today's post, as promised, is the first in a series of posts covering yesterday's handover Mass, with many more pictures to come over the days ahead. If you have any images that you are happy for us to publish, please send them to us: contact details are here.

The Apostolic Nuncio - the Pope's Ambassador to Great Britain - was present, representing the Holy Father as he did at Bishop Campbell's ordination. He gave a short message at the end of Mass, thanking Bishop O'Donoghue for his work in Lancaster and offering words of encouragement to Bishop Campbell as his time of leadership begins.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor had been due to attend but was unable to do so due to illness. He did, however, send a message, which was read by Rt Rev. Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds. Bishop Roche last week hosted in Leeds a meeting of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, which the Cardinal attended.

In total there were 18 bishops present (including our own!) - a larger gathering than we had been expecting. Amongst their ranks was Rt Rev. Seamus Cunningham, the recently-ordained Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, which borders our own Diocese.

The Cathedral was packed with people from across the Diocese and beyond. Lay faithful and religious filled the benches. Among the congregation were guests of the two Bishops, including over 20 members of Bishop O'Donoghue's family who had made the trip from Ireland.

Once again the Papal Knights were out in force, adding a little extra colour to proceedings. Guests from other denominations were led by the Anglican suffrigan bishops from Penrith and Lancaster.

About 40 deacons and 100 priests were present; here they are seen leaving the Cathedral at the end of the Mass. Later in the week there will be more pictures of their parade through the garden, but before that there will be more on the Mass itself.

Rt Rev. Michael Campbell OSA, Sixth Bishop of Lancaster

People of the Diocese of Lancaster, here is your new Bishop. Rt Rev. Michael Campbell today became the sixth Bishop of Lancaster, as Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue retired after nearly eight years in charge of the Diocese.

The transition was marked by Mass in the Cathedral with around 180 clergy present, including Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the Papal Nuncio and a further 14 bishops. We have a lot of pictures of the event and will be picking out the best to show here on the Blog over the coming days. Be sure to call back for a series of posts, beginning tomorrow.

Bishop Patrick: a tribute

The weight of responsibility is about to be lifted from his shoulders. This evening, after seven years and 300 days in charge of the Diocese of Lancaster, Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue retires just three days short of his 75th birthday. Today the blog pays him tribute.

Bishop O'Donoghue came to Lancaster unknown by the Diocese, having served for 34 years as a priest and auxiliary bishop in the Diocese of Westminster. Almost exactly a year after the death of Bishop Brewer (10th June 1999) his appointment was announced, and he was installed as fifth Bishop of Lancaster on 4th July 2001. Here he is seen after the installation, alongside Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor and Archbishop Kelly of Liverpool.

In 2003 the Bishop came to live at the Cathedral in rooms which had been fitted out as a small apartment for his use. For the last five and half years he has been resident here, and he has made the most of being around the Cathedral parish. Regulars at Mass are well used to seeing him appear at the back of the Cathedral at the end of Mass, ready to greet people as they leave. He has often called in to social events in the parish, and has on many occasions worked the tables or stood before people with some entertaining anecdotes.

For the Cathedral School, too, Bishop Patrick has been a good friend, making many visits to the school and often coming to school events in the Cathedral. Above he is pictured at the celebration of Mass with the whole school present. The Bishop has become a familiar figure to the children, especially those who serve at Mass or assist in other ways around the parish.

In May 2007 the Bishop celebrated his Ruby Jubilee of priesthood, with a large diocesan Mass at the Cathedral. Most of his years had been spent in Westminster, as hospital chaplain, seminary rector, Administrator of Westminster Cathedral and Auxiliary Bishop; he brought considerable experience when he came up north. In Lancaster he has strongly encouraged vocations to the priesthood, and founded a house of formation at Cleator, West Cumbria. During his time here he has ordained seven priests and over 20 permanent deacons. Perhaps most importantly of all, when he came to the Diocese there were four seminarians; today there are eight.

Other significant achievements include the founding of a Cenacolo community at Dodding Green near Kendal; this community provides support for men who suffer from addiction. Throughout his time in Lancaster, the Bishop has been extremely active and often in the headlines. His recent teaching documents, Fit for Mission? Schools and Fit for Mission? Church have been widely acclaimed both by the Vatican and by Catholics throughout the world. One might say they have put Lancaster on the Catholic map! A recent document on preparation for marriage completes the series.

Bishop O'Donoghue has seen through a significant number of reforms of diocesan structues, with major changes to diocesan finances, the education service and youth provision. The changes have often been difficult for people affected, and are a reminder to all of us that a bishop's task is never an easy one. An process of reviewing parishes and chapels has produced a pastoral plan for the Diocese and recently resulted in some chapels-of-ease being closed. Such decisions are always difficult and often painful.

Also reformed was the Cathedral Chapter - the Canons - whose statutes were changed to introduce 75 as a retirement age. The result was the installation of four new canons - including the then Bishop-elect Fr Michael Campbell - at Mass in March 2008.

On 31st March 2008 the Bishop ordained the man who will today become his successor: Bishop Michael Campbell, the first Augustinian Bishop in England since the Reformation. Since that day the two have had joint care of the Diocese, but in a few hours' time the burden falls to Bishop Campbell alone. Many at the Cathedral and beyond will want to thank Bishop O'Donoghue for his tireless work these last eight years, and to wish him a long and happy retirement. The Bishop is expected to remain with us for a few weeks until returning to his roots in Ireland.