At a Solemn Mass held at Westminster Cathedral, today, Thursday 2nd February 2006, the Rt Rev John Arnold was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, assigned the titular see of Lindisfarne . Bishop John Arnold will have responsibility for the pastoral care of the deaneries of Barnet, Brent, Enfield, Haringey, and Harrow and in December 2005 was appointed Moderator of the Curia.
Attended by thirty three Catholic Bishops of England and Wales . Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster , was the Main Celebrant and Principal Ordaining Bishop. He was assisted by the Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham , and the Rt Rev James O’Brien, Emeritus Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster .
In attendance were His Excellency Archbishop Faustino Sainz Munoz, (the Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James, representing Pope Benedict XVI); Revd Canon Robert Reiss, representing Dr Wesley Carr, Dean of Westminster Abbey; Rt Revd Michael Colclough, Bishop of Kensington, representing the Bishop of London; Revd Deacon Meliton Oakes, representing Archbishop Gregorios (Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain); Revd Canon Martin Warner, representing Dr John Moses; Bishop Basil of Sergievo and a wide selection of ecumenical and interfaith guests.
Also present were: Lady Brennan; Viscount and Viscountess Bridgeman; Cllr Eddie Griffith, Mayor of Haringey; Baroness Hooper; Cllr Paddy Lyne and Mrs Mary Graham, Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow; Cllr Colum Maloney, Mayor of Brent; Lord and Lady Merton of Lindisfarne and Joan Ryan MP for Enfield North.
The first reading (Ezekiel 36:23-28) was read by Clare Barbour. The second reading (Letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:12-17) was read by Martin Foulds. The Gospel (Luke 2:22-40) was read by Rev. Augustin Conesa.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O-‘Connor delivered the Homily in which he reflected that as the Paschal Mystery stands at the centre of the life and mission of Christ, so too the Eucharist stands at the centre of the life and mission of the Bishop.
“At the daily celebration of Holy Mass, the Bishop offers himself together with Christ. When this celebration takes place in the Cathedral or in other churches, especially parish churches, with the presence and the active participation of the faithful, the Bishop stands before all as Sacerdos et Pontifex ; sacerdos because in a particular way he shares in the priesthood of Christ, Pontifex since through him the person of Christ and the power of his Spirit are made real for the people. As St Ignatius of Antioch often reminded us, “Where the bishop is….there is the Church”. For here in the Eucharist the Bishop opens his heart to the Lord, allowing it to be filled and shaped by the love poured forth from the Cross by the great Shepherd of the sheep, who shed his blood and gave his life for them. To him the Bishop raises his prayer in constant intercession for the sheep entrusted to his care.”
The congregation was made up of over 350 priests and over 1,300 parishioners.
