Churches combine in Jubilee thanksgiving

THIS SUNDAY will be a nationwide day of prayer and thanksgiving for the Queen and the Royal Family. Special jubilee Masses will be offered for them in many churches, and the Bishops' Conference has given permission for collections to be taken for the Prince of Wales' Jubilee Fund.
The flower festival to be held at Westminster Cathedral from June 30 to July 3 will be part of the nation's tribute to the
Queen., The interdenominational Westminster .Civic Jubilee Service will also be held in the Cathedral next week.
On Wednesday, Cardinal Hume will be the chief celebrant at the Union of Catholic Mothers Mass of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral. The Queen will visit the Catholic and Anglican cathedrals in Liverpool on June 21. She will attend a musical pageant depicting the four seasons which will be staged along Hope Street, which links the two cathedrals.
On Sunday there will be a special service of thanksgiving and rededication in Liverpool. It will begin in the Anglican Cathedral at 3 and then those taking part will process to the Catholic Cathedral where the service will be concluded.
. In a joint Jubilee message the Merseyside Churches' Ecumenical Council spoke of the "very happy relationship between all the Christian communities of Merseyside" which had been one of the blessings of the Queen's 25 years on the Throne.
Their Jubilee message described the progress in ecumenism in the area over the last 25 years but also looked forward to the role of the Churches in the future.
"l rem Biblical times a year of jubilee has been an occasion for thanksgiving, but also for repentance and the making of a new beginning. Our Jubilee celebrations present a challenge to all Christians to commit themselves to working wholeheartedly for the future of this country.'
In Birmingham there will be a special Jubilee and Mayoral Mass at St Chad's Cathedral on Sunday at 10.30. Last Tuesday, Bishop Cleary, Auxiliary of Birmingham. preached at a united Jubilee Service at Brierley Hill, West Midlands.
Yesterday Bishop Henderson, Auxiliary ofSouthwark. celebrated a Royal Jubilee Mass at St Columba's Sccon dary School for Boys. Pupils from St Columba's College and the Loreto College, Watford, were among the 400 young people who recently celebrated the Jubilee by taking part in Evensong at St Alban's Cathedral, St Albans.
In a letter to be read out in all churches in Brentwood on Sunday, Bishop Casey praised the Royal Family's "domestic virtues."
Describing the monarchy as a great source of unity, commanding the allegiance of all citizens regardless of politics, , the Bishop stressed: "We must be grateful for the fact that at a time when marriage and the family are so often attacked, the Royal Family gives an example of stability and love."
The diocese of Northampton took part in the Silver Jubilee Exhibition organised by the Buckinghamshire County Council. It mounted a stand showing the development of the life of the Church over the last 25 years.
The diocese of Salford has linked its annual Blessed Sacrament procession with a jubilee tribute to the Queen.
In the procession's
programme, Bishop Holland of Salford has written: "The Blessed Sacrament expresses our faith in the Real Presence and our love for this the greatest of God's gifts. It carries also our heartfelt thanks to God for the 25 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign and begs Him to continue to bless her."
Bishop Holland has received a letter from the Queen's private secretary saying: "Her Majesty was interested to learn of the procession with its contribution of prayer and thanksgiving for her Silver Jubilee and hopes that it will he a happy and enjoyable occasion."
The Jubilee is to he celebrated jointly by Catholics. Presbyterians and Episcopalians in the Scottish Border area at a service in Melrose Abbey on Sunday. The event, a service of Reconciliation, involving clergy from all the local Christian churches. will start at 6 pm.