MERVYN BISHOP OF CLIFTON PASTORAL LETTER ADVENT 1997

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Most of you will be aware that in October the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales went to Rome to pay a formal visit to the Holy Father. I would like to pick up some of the important points that came up on this occasion. The visit was an experience of the family spirit of the world-wide church. Through the bishops the Holy Father sent his greetings and apostolic blessing to the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful of each diocese. He went on to say that the visit of the bishops was a witness to the Bishop of Rome's unique ministry of unity in the Church.

An ancient title of the Pope is "servant of the servants of God." It can only be the love of God and this spirit of service that make it possible for so apparently frail a person to continue to bear his heavy responsibilities and to persevere in such a demanding programme. He was glad to see me because I was the last bishop he had to see that morning, but he still had to see two ambassadors and a group from America before he could break for lunch. It is easy to see why we pray for the Holy Father by name at every Mass.

I would like to focus on what the Holy Father had to say about the parish. "The parish remains the place where the faithful normally gather as one family to hear the saving word of God, to celebrate the sacraments with dignity and reverence, and to be inspired and strengthened in their mission to consecrate the world in holiness, justice and peace." It would be good for us all to ponder those words and to look at our own parish and how it compares with those aims. I am sure that there will be plenty of positive notes, but with room for improvement.

The Holy Father goes on to say: "The parish makes present the mystery of the Church as an organic community. Other institutions, organisations and associations are signs of vitality, instruments of evangelisation and a leaven of Christian life as long as they contribute to building up the local community in the unity of faith and ecclesial life ... a unity which entails an organic connection with the particular Church" (or Diocese). Hence associations which threaten the unity of the parish or its living links with the Diocese are unacceptable. In all our parishes we are to pray in St. Paul's words for "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

On another matter the Holy Father says: "Pastors have a duty to foster the charisms, ministries and different forms of participation by the People of God"... "in the document "The Sign we Give" approved by your Conference you recognised the need to strengthen "collaborative ministry" among Bishops, Priests, Religious and Lay People so that an authentic communion in mission would be ever more evident in diocesan and parochial life.. working together in a genuine partnership in the Gospel..." You will remember that our diocesan summer school last July concentrated on this pastoral co-operation in the parish and the diocese.

The Holy Father also highlighted, something very appropriate for Advent, the joy based upon the forgiveness of sins and a renewed appreciation of the beauty and joy of the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation.

Pope John Paul also spoke of the essential role of Priests and the many gifts and qualities that they need. He asked for prayer for priests and stressed the importance of fervent and continuing prayer, especially in families and parishes, for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

In your own neighbourhood you will have seen the effects of the shortage of priests and religious sisters. We must all work together to provide the best possible sacramental and pastoral care. Valuable service is provided by our Permanent Deacons, by Religious Priests, Brothers, and Sisters, by Priests who have joined the Diocese from other Churches and by many wonderful dedicated lay people.

With a group of young adults from the Diocese I attended the World Youth Day with the Holy Father in Paris last August. The crowd was so great that some of our young people were not able to get in to the racecourse for the Final Mass. There were over a million people present and their enthusiasm was impressive in spite of the overcrowding and the' intense heat.

Last Sunday we celebrated Youth Sunday in the diocese and prayed for our young people and those who work with them. We can end with some words from 'Pope John Paul in Paris: "The world's future belongs to the new generations, born in this century, that will grow up in the next millennium. Christ is awaiting the youth."

Wishing you every grace of Advent and Christmas (with acknowledgement to Pope John Paul for writing the Pastoral Letter.)