WITH the Easter Vigil fast approaching, many of the bishops of England and Wales will be taking part in the Rite of Election of Catechumens this Sunday, an important stage in the RC1A process.
Cardinal Basil Hume, together with Bishop David Konstant of Leeds, Hertfordshire Auxiliary Bishop James O'Brien, and Bishop John Crowley, bishop in Central London, will officiate at the Rite of Election at Westminster Cathedral. The same rite will be celebrated by Bishop Augustine Harris of Middlebrough at Coulby Newham and by Bishop Patrick Kelly of Salford at Salford Cathedral. All the ceremonies will commence at 3pm, apart from the celebration of the rite in the Diocese of Menevia which will begin at 1 lam at Swansea, presided over by Bishop Daniel Mullins.
Two bishops will be going abroad this week. On Sunday Bishop Alan Clark of East Anglia will depart for a 15 day visit to the USA, and Archbishop Worlock of Liverpool will go to Lima, Peru for 13 days to meet the Society of St James and LAMP workers.
Visitations, confirmations and the induction of a parish priest will also feature in the bishops' diaries this week. Bishop Charles Henderson, Auxiliary in Southwark, will visit Downham on Saturday and conduct confirmation at 1 lam. On Tuesday he will conduct the induction of a parish priest at Charlton at 7.30pm. Archbishop Michael Bowen of Southwark will administer confirmation at Gravesend at 7.30pm on Tuesday. Bishop Leo McCartie, Auxiliary in Birmingham, will do likewise on Thursday at 7.30pm at St Joseph's, Nechells. On Sunday Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth will do the same at St Joseph's, Havant, On Friday Bishop John Jukes, area bishop in Kent, will go for three days to St Anselm's parish, Dartdocs. Bishop John Brewer of Lancaster will go to St Mary's Parish, Morecambe for a visitation and confirmation.