Sunday, March 22, 2009

Big welcome for Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle

SENIOR Catholic clergy travelled to the North yesterday to welcome the new Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle.

The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, was present at a two-hour service to install The Rt Rev Seamus Cunningham as Bishop of the Diocese.

The Pope’s personal representative, Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz, also attended the ceremony in St Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Newcastle.

Archbishop Muñoz, brought with him the official Proclamation from Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, written in Latin.

The service was led by Liverpool’s Archbishop the Most Rev Patrick Kelly, who was supported by the Rt Rev Ambrose Griffiths – the 11th Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle until his retirement in 2004 – and Bishop Michael Campbell from Lancaster.

The new Bishop promised to serve God and his congregation as part of the service, and was presented with symbols of his office including the Pectoral cross and staff, and the Bishop’s mitre.

More than 200 priests, deacons and members of religious orders, and 19 representatives of North East Christian churches and other faiths packed the city centre cathedral.

They were joined by people from every town in the diocese as well as Bishop Cunningham’s close family from Ireland. Those not lucky enough to get a ticket to attend the ceremony packed into the doorway of the cathedral. Bishop Cunningham, 66, has served the diocese, which covers the North East from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Stockton-on-Tees, for over 40 years.

Originally from County Mayo, Ireland, he took up his first post as assistant priest in Our Lady and St Joseph’s parish, Brooms, North West Durham, in 1966.

He leaves a much-loved parish in St Oswin’s, Tynemouth, and St Mary’s, Cullercoats to take up the post as Bishop. He has also been acting as administrator of the Diocese since the death of the 12th Bishop, Kevin Dunn, last year. He was just 57.

Speaking before his ordination, Bishop Cunningham said: “I hope to start by continuing Bishop Kevin’s initiatives before seeking anew what will be best to meet the many challenges in spreading the Gospel and working with other church bodies.”

In an interview with The Journal this week he revealed that his biggest priority as Bishop would be to support families struggling in the credit crunch.

He also stressed his intention to continue to build relationships between other churches and faith groups.

Regional representatives in attendance at the ceremony included the three Lord Lieutenancies of Tyne & Wear, Durham and Northumberland, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, the Mayors of Gateshead, North and South Tyneside and Stockton, Deputy Mayors of Sunderland and Durham cities and chairmen of Hartlepool and Northumberland councils.

Representatives from other denominations were invited, including The Bishop of Durham the Rt Rev Tom Wright, the Bishop of Newcastle the Rt Rev Martin Wharton, and Bishop Mark Bryant of Jarrow. Jewish and Hindu leaders were also present. Music and singing was lead by the Hexham & Newcastle Diocesan choir under the direction of Philip Robinson and accompanied by organist David Alison.

The ordination was followed in the evening by a service of Solemn Vespers in St Mary’s Cathedral. By the end of the day, some 1,300 guests had taken part in the celebrations.
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(Source: RCN)