From the Editor

Fr John writes

November is the month of the Holy Souls, of course, and even though we cannot use the Holy Souls Chapel, there will still be the usual provision for the November Dead List, and the customary Masses will be celebrated. In Oremus, however, it seems that the saints have wanted to have plenty of attention this month. A short ride on the 211 bus will bring us to the Servite church on Fulham Road where the new Beatus, Carlo Acutis, was baptised. As the most recently Beatified he stands in contrast to one who is patiently waiting for his canonisation – Bl Charles de Foucauld. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused several canonisations to be postponed in Rome until circumstances are more propitious. Meanwhile Bl Charles has much to teach our present confrontational generation about co-existence and respect, which he exemplified in his relations with the Muslims among whom he lived.

A century ago the canonisation of Joan of Arc took place, causing a great Catholic pageant to be organised in and around the Cathedral, with tens of thousands attending. Unfortunately the scrapbook recording the event prepared for Cardinal Bourne is too fragile to come out for general handling, but I have given an account of its contents in an attempt to convey something of the excitement and devotion of the day. Newspaper reporting of the event shows that some aspects of journalism have hardly changed in the intervening century.

It sometimes seems difficult now to remember aspects of Cathedral life that were parts of its fabric before lockdown – the Guilds of the Blessed Sacrament and St Anthony, the weekday evening and Saturday morning Rosary groups and many more. And then there were the outings and pilgrimages, also casualties of the restrictions. One of these was the summer’s planned pilgrimage to East Anglia, so included this month is the article prepared for one of the stopping points, the site of the cell occupied by the 14th century mystic known to us as Julian of Norwich. She also lived through a time when epidemic and plague were rampant, so her teaching that ‘All manner of thing shall be well’ is a reminder that we have to place our trust in God’s providence whatever the external circumstances may be.

Three Cathedral Chaplains are packing in readiness to leave as this Oremus goes to print, and thanks and prayers go to and with them all. Equally, we give thanks for the appointment of Fr Witon´ as Administrator and offer him our prayers and support as he takes on his considerable responsibilities, among which, of course, is being Chairman of Oremus magazine – Welcome, Father.

Westminster Cathedral

Cathedral Clergy House 42 Francis Street London SW1P 1QW Telephone 020 7798 9055 Email chreception@rcdow.org.uk www.westminstercathedral.org.uk

Cathedral Chaplains

Fr Sławomir Witon´ , Administrator Fr Michael Donaghy Fr Andrew Gallagher, Precentor Fr Hugh MacKenzie Fr Vincent Mbu’i SVD Fr John Scott, Registrar

Also in residence

Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Victories

Music Department

Awaiting appointment, Master of Music Peter Stevens Obl. OSB, Assistant Master of Music James Orford, Organist in residence Marko Sever, Organ Scholar

Cathedral Manager

Peter McNulty

Estates Manager

Neil Fairbairn

Chapel of Ease

Sacred Heart Church Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF