From the Editor

Fr John writes

November is the month of the dead and so several pieces in this edition, in their own way, touch on that. On the back cover we hear how the children of SVP School learn and use the Church’s traditional prayers for the dead. It is sometimes mistakenly thought that children should be protected from death, but that underestimates their ways of understanding and imagination. I have also included a short article on ‘Green Funerals’. Cremation has become a default choice for many, yet our growing environmental awareness suggests that burial may still be the best way forward for us who believe in an incarnational religion. The gloomy ranks of Victorian cemetery memorials are not a necessary concomitant of burial.

After the visit of the Relics of St Bernadette (they are moving towards the end of their UK tour and are over the river in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark as I write this), we resumed the recitation of the Memorare as a prayer for peace at the end of every Mass and so I have reproduced an Angelus address of the Holy Father in which he challenges forcefully the madness of war as any form of solution. Turning to a happier memory, for the Cathedral History in Pictures feature, we look back on the St Andrew’s day when the late Queen Elizabeth II came to Vespers in the Cathedral. That was indeed a historic occasion and happily it was written up by the then Fr Mark Langham in inimitable style.

Having, I hope, interested at least some of you in the Egyptian journeyings on the Nile of Victorian members of my family, an exhibition presently on in the British Museum takes us a step further into the world of ancient Egypt, and especially into hieroglyphs; the exhibition is reviewed in these pages. Also printed here are some excerpts from a review of the Cathedral Choir’s performance during its brief late September concert trip to Germany. It is gratifying to read words of such high praise and Oremus congratulations go to the Choir and the Master of Music.

Returning to the theme of the month, whilst I am grateful for the support of present readers and subscribers, I am also mindful of those who have died. On Thursday 3 November I shall celebrate the 5.30pm Solemn Mass with intention for the repose of the souls of deceased supporters of Oremus. May they rest in peace.

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 Brian O’Mahony, Sub-Administrator Fr Michael Donaghy Fr Hugh MacKenzie Fr Mike Maguire, Precentor Fr Vincent Mbu’i SVD Fr John Scott, Registrar

Also in residence

Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady ofVictories: Sr Angelina, Sr Fatima and Sr Jesuina

Music Department

Simon Johnson, Master of Music Peter Stevens Obl. OSB, Assistant Master of Music Carolyn Craig, Organ Scholar

Cathedral Manager

Peter McNulty

Estates Manager

Neil Fairbairn

Finance Manager

Awaiting appointment

Fundraising Manager

Marie-Louise Van Spyk

Chapel of Ease

Sacred Heart Church Horseferry Road SW1P 2EF