New Bishop Cont'd/...

Diocese Press Release After Ordination...

At the end of Mass Bishop Seamus said he was very grateful for the support clearly evident in the Cathedral and he thanked guests and priests and people for travelling to be there.

He told them: “I’ve a simple message to offer all the people of the North East: it is the hope that our world-famous sense of community and sharing, warmth and understanding of working for the common good, will, with God’s help, sustain us through difficult economic times
and the earnest search for jobs. I hope it will be the paramount force to encourage working together to find some of the answers.

“And for Catholic friends, it’s a similar greeting: I remember my own family home as a sacred place. I’d like you to help me promote a return to spirituality and encourage a sense of service.”

Bishop Cunningham said he started with a big advantage. “I know I’m among friends. I know you and you know me! But it’s like starting out again and I’ll want to renew friendships and make many more. I may not always say the right thing – but I hope to be at your side and on your side.”

He concluded: “Meanwhile, may God bless us all and may He come with us on the journey we’re about to take together.”

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Munoz, said Bishop Cunningham followed in the footsteps of Bishop Kevin Dunn and Bishop Hugh Lindsay – both of whom died in the last 12 months – and Bishop Ambrose Griffiths “very much present today” – in the work of building up the work of God’s Church in England and Wales. He added: “I have no doubt that, as a priest of this diocese, you feel very much at home here and that you have many friends here to collaborate in this great task.”

Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, speaking as President of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales welcomed Bishop Seamus “as one of our number”. He would find strength in the friendly counsel and unity of the Bishops and clearly had the support of all the people in the Cathedral today and thousands more beyond. The Cardinal was sure Bishop Seamus would be a good Shepherd to you all. As he entered the Cathedral today approaching ordination, Canon Cunningham was supported by two close friends, Monsignor Ged Lavender and Fr Bill O’Gorman. Mgr Lavender takes up a new appointment today as Vicar General of Hexham & Newcastle Diocese.

For the Ordination Mass the new Bishop was assisted by the Rt Rev Ambrose Griffiths – 11th Bishop of Hexham & Newcastle until his retirement in 2004 – and Bishop Michael Campbell from Lancaster. Both concelebrated the Ordination Mass with Archbishop Kelly.

Fifty members of Hexham & Newcastle Diocesan choir, under the direction of Philip Robinson, led the big congregation in singing the entrance hymn to St Cuthbert, through to the final hymn Be thou my vision which accompanied the procession from the Cathedral. St Mary’s Cathedral organist was David Allison. A small schola group, led by Gerard McNally from Jarrow, sang the glorious Te Deum an ancient hymn of praise.
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Stephen Rooney, 22, from West Monkseaton, sang a communion hymn I cannot tell how he whom angels worship to the tune of Danny Boy. Bishop Cunningham heard Stephen singing during the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes last August and asked him if he would sing at today’s Ordination. Bishop Seamus said the tune took him back to haymaking as a boy on the family farm in Co Mayo and it always “tugged at my heartstrings”.

Today’s Ordination was followed in the evening by a service of Solemn Vespers in St Mary’s Cathedral with a full church for the second time today, raising the total number of guests taking part in the celebrations to 1,300 by the end of the day.

Date of release: Friday, 20 March 2009 - After completion of Episcopal Ordination

On the sanctuary were:
* Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, of St Andrews and Edinburgh, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz (the Pope’s personal representative as Papal Nuncio and Vatican Ambassador to Great Britain), who brought with him the official Mandate from Pope Benedict, without which no Catholic Bishop can be ordained.

* Archbishop Vincent Nichols from Birmingham, Archbishop Peter Smith from Cardiff, 29 other Bishops from England & Wales and Abbot Cuthbert Madden of Ampleforth.

* Fra Matthew Festing, from Northumberland, the Grand Knight of Malta, who has equal rank to a Cardinal.

In the congregation were:
* Colonel Jeremy Feggetter, representing Her Majesty’s personal representative the Lord Lieutenant of Tyne & Wear, and Captain Iain Moffatt, Acting Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland. They were joined by civic guests, including the Sheriff of Newcastle Coun Michael Cookson and the Mayors, Mayoresses and civic representatives from cities, towns and counties across the region, including the Mayors of Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Stockton, Deputy Mayors of Sunderland and Durham Cities and Chairmen of Hartlepool and Northumberland Councils.

* Ecumenical guests included the Bishop of Durham the Rt Rev Tom Wright, the Bishop of Newcastle the Rt Rev Martin Wharton, Bishop Mark Bryant of Jarrow, other Anglicans and regional representatives of Methodist, Baptist, United Reformed and Free Churches and the Salvation Army. A special group of eight clergy from Newcastle city centre churches and Cullercoats and North Shields, in the Canon’s former parish were also present.

* Other Faith communities in the North East were also represented and warmly welcomed by the new Bishop.

I am sure that you will all join with me in praying for our new Bishop and we hope that God will grant him the strength and wisdom to gather his flock and lead us forward.

rcwebmaster.