BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT 'THREE HUNDRED prelates from all over the world will be present at the opening of Liverpool Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday (May 14th) next year. Detailed plans announced this week say that this will be one of the largest Catholic functions to be held in Britain.
Eight thousand tickets will be issued for places on the elevated piazza on the crypt roof to which the ceremonies will be televised on a "jumbo" size screen. A congregation of more than 2,000 people, representative of all sections of religious and civic life. will be personal guests of Archbishop Beck.
The cathedral, now in the final stages of construction, has taken only half the time laid down for its building but it will cost four times the originallyproposed figure of £1 million.
Mgr. Cyril Taylor, who announced the plans for the opening ceremonies, said the Papal Legate, as yet unnamed. will arrive in Liverpool on Friday evening, May 12th, when he will present his brief of appointment in the crypt of the cathedral in the presence of Archbishop Beck, chapter and clergy.
He will then be taken on a private visit to the new cathedral. Later in the evening there will be a public reception in the City Hall. The first part of the consecration will take place in private on the Saturday morning, the afternoon being given over to a garden party for the Legate and visiting prelates. In the evening the Lord Mayor will give a civic dinner.
The solemn opening, to take place on Sunday afternoon. will be followed in the evening with a banquet at which the Papal Legate and the Archbishop will be hosts.
To facilitate attendance by as many as possible throughout the week following, there will be two functions a day arranged in the cathedral. Some of these will be reserved for specific categories such as religious, school children. parochial groups and workers.
Trinity Sunday, May 21st, will be reserved for visitors from the Northern Province, excluding Liverpool Archdiocese. It is