Late May and early June have seen three significant liturgical celebrations at Leeds Cathedral.
On Wednesday 28 May Bishop Marcus led the Mass of Installation of Fr Malachy Larkin to Leeds Cathedral Chapter. Fr Larkin’s appointment to the Chapter followed on from the retirement of Canon John Galvin, who now becomes a Canon Emeritus.
Canon Larkin was ordained in 1989, having studied for the priesthood at Ushaw College in County Durham. He is currently Parish Priest of our two parishes in the Calder Valley – the Sacred Heart and St Patrick at Sowerby Bridge, and the Good Shepherd at Mytholmroyd.
Two days later on Friday 30 May the Bishop celebrated Mass on the Memorial of the Yorkshire Martyrs. After the Communion Rite the Bishop proceeded to the Martyrs Chapel in the South Aisle, where he dedicated a new Reliquary containing the relic of Blessed Christopher Wharton. Blessed Christopher was born in Wharfedale in 1540 and ordained a priest in 1584. After many years of secretly ministering to loyal Catholics in Yorkshire he was arrested and put on trial for being a Catholic priest. He was convicted and later executed at York on 28 March 1600. He was beatified by Pope St John Paul II in 1987.
The very fine Reliquary was designed by the Cathedral Architect, Richard Williams and crafted by Peter Merrell and Hart Silversmiths.
Our pictures show the Bishop blessing the new Reliquary, and the Reliquary with its designer, Richard Williams.
The annual Celebration of Priesthood took place on Thursday 12 June. The Mass is an act of thanksgiving for the service of all our clergy but in particular it celebrates the ministry of those who are marking a jubilee of ordination during the year. The 2025 Jubilarians are:
- Mgr Canon Bryan Sharp – Platinum Jubilee
- Fr Michael Kelly – Diamond Jubilee
- Canon Lawrie Hulme – Golden Jubilee
- Fr Richard Carter – Ruby Jubilee
- Fr Michael Hughes – Silver Jubilee
- Fr Simon Lodge – Silver Jubilee
- Fr Peter Smith – Silver Jubilee
The photo above shows (L-R) Fr Simon Lodge, Canon Lawrie Hulme, Fr Michael Kelly, Bishop Marcus & Fr Peter Smith.
The Mass also celebrated the Golden Jubilee of Cardinal Arthur Roche and Archbishop John Wilson’s thirtieth anniversary of Ordination, which both occur in July. Both the Cardinal and the Archbishop returned to Leeds for the occasion. Cardinal Roche was the Principal Celebrant at the Mass, and the homily was preached by the Abbot of Ampleforth, the Rt Rev Robert Igo. Also in attendance was the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Mr Ed Anderson KSG, CBE.
In his introductory remarks at the beginning of Mass, Bishop Marcus welcomed the Cardinal, Archbishop and Abbot to the Cathedral along with the concelebrating clergy from the Diocese and the members of the congregation. He revealed that earlier that morning Cardinal Roche had taken a phone call from the Holy Father. During the course of the conversation the Cardinal explained to the Holy Father that he was in Leeds and the special event he was attending. In return Pope Leo extended his greetings and best wishes to everyone gathered in the Cathedral for the Celebration of Priesthood.
The photo below shows (L-R), the Abbot of Ampleforth, Bishop Marcus, Cardinal Roche & Archbishop Wilson at the West Door of the Cathedral.
Video recordings of all three liturgies can be found at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-xVdN6rMCG0sSgxk8Rulow
Photo albums from the liturgies can be found at https://www.patricksicephotography.co.uk/blog/
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