BY ED WEST
IN HIS final pastoral letter as Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has spoken of his joy at visiting parishes and thanked God for the 32 years he has enjoyed as bishop.
He said in a pastoral letter for the fifth Sunday of Lent: “There are many things that come to mind as I reflect on these years.
“I remember the great occasion when over 10,000 of us gathered together at Wembley Arena to celebrate the beginning of our initiative, At Your Word, Lord. What a joyful day that was, with representatives from every parish – a huge Catholic, Christian family gathered together in faith and hope for the future of the growth and flourishing of the Church.
“But what I have particularly enjoyed, Sunday after Sunday, is visiting, even for a short time, the parishes of our diocese. There I have found vibrant Eucharistic communities; people young and old who gather together week after week to celebrate the Mass. No Christian community can be built up unless it has as its basis the celebration of the Eucharist.” The Cardinal said even in a secular society people had a thirst for meaning. “Our message ... is so important that we should understand that that each one of us has to be brave, courageous in the profession of our faith.”