Bishops Harris and Gray, Auxiliaries of Liverpool, writing in a special pastoral letter in
troducing the period of honouring the silver jubilee of the
Archbishop as a Bishop, say: "This is not just a personal celebration belonging to Archbishop Beck alone."
"A Bishop is the head of the local church. Archbishop Beck is the head of our diocese. As such he is the sign of the local church to which we all belong and in which we should all be involved."
Accordingly, the auxiliary bishops appeal to the people of Liverpool Archdiocese to be in volved in the celebrations, first by making Sunday next a general communion of thanksgiving for the work of the Archbishop and in supplication for the continued guidance of the church in south west Lancashire. "We ask that the silver jubilee be the occasion of a great spiritual renewal," they say.
On Friday, September 21. Archbishop Beck will con celebrate Mass in the metropolitan cathedral in the presence of the Archbishops or England and Wales at which Cardinal Heenan will preach. Priests and people are expected to fill the cathedral and no admission tickets are required.