Lighting Up Our Hearts - Papal Visit Prayers

15 September 2010
Location: Clifton Cathedral
Address: Pembroke Road, Bristol BS8 3BX
Time: 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm

On the eve of the Holy Father’s historic visit to the United Kingdom a special evening of prayers will take place in the Cathedral.  Led by two bishops we will join together and pray that the papal visit lights up the heart of our nation.  All are welcome to take part from 7.00 pm to 10.00 pm on Wednesday 15 September. 

This unique time in our spiritual lives sees our local Catholic community hosting the statue of Our Lady of the Taper on pilgrimage to the Holy Father in London.  

Our Director of Adult Education and Evangelisation Father Christopher Whitehead is one of the organisers of the unique event.  He told cliftondiocese.com: “Pope Benedict XVI arrives on Thursday 16 September to begin a four day visit to the United Kingdom. Although he is not visiting Wales during these four days he will, however, be conscious of the people of Wales most notably through the presence of the statue of Our Lady of the Taper from the National Shrine of Cardigan at the Mass at Westminster Cathedral.

“The statue is being transported to London on Thursday 16 September and we, as a diocese, are in a fortunate position to be able to welcome the statue of Our Lady into our Cathedral on Wednesday 15 September.  There will be a celebration of Evening Prayer at 7.00 pm beginning with a Service of Light. After Evening Prayer there will be a Vigil of Prayer and the Cathedral will remain open until 10.00 pm.

“The focus of our coming together will be to pray for the Holy Father and his visit to our country. 

“Invite you take part in this Vigil of Prayer on the eve of the Holy Father’s arrival. It would be wonderful if every parish in our diocese sends a delegation of parishioners to be at this Vigil of Prayer with Bishop Declan and Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia - the home diocese of Our Lady of the Taper.

“The many young people taking part in the Hyde Park Prayer Vigil will also be taking part in our special evening of prayers.

“The statue of Our Lady of the Taper will leave the Cathedral and continue its pilgrimage to Westminster Cathedral on Thursday 16 September after the 7.30 am Mass.  Again, all are welcome to join in the celebration of this Mass.

“This will be a wonderful start to the papal visit next month and I look forward to seeing you at the Cathedral. 

“I will shortly be sending posters to let people know about this event.  I will also make the poster available here on cliftondiocese.com so that you can download and print copies to help spread the word about our evening of prayers to which everyone will be most welcome.”

The evening of prayers in Clifton Cathedral on Pembroke Road, Bristol BS8 3BX, begins at 7.00 pm and concludes at 10.00 pm on Wednesday 15 September - people can come and go throughout those times to suit.

More news about this beginning of the papal visit will be available soon on cliftondiocese.com.

We'll also bring you a podcast series featuring Father Jason Jones, the Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Taper parish in Cardigan.  He'll explain the importance of the statue of Our Lady of the Taper to Welsh Catholics, tell us something of the amazing history of this devotion, and look forward with great excitement to his pilgrim journey taking the statue to Westminster Cathedral and to the Holy Father.

The official website thepapalvisit.org.uk is the best place to find out the most up-to-date information in the build up to the special time in the life of the Church in our countries.  It will also provide full coverage during the visit - a great place for you to follow the visit virtually if you are unable to be at any of the large public papal events.

The first email round-up from the papal visit’s official website thepapalvisit.org.uk has been hitting inboxes. Sign-up to the e-alert packed with the latest news about the Holy Father’s historic visit.