Chrism Mass in St George's Madrid

St George's Madrid hosted one of the three Chrism Masses held in the diocese this Holy Week. Clergy and lay ministers from the parishes of Lisbon, Costa del Sol East, Costa Almeria and Costa Calida, Costa Ahazar, Gibraltar, Madrid, and Tenerife South gathered for this liturgy where vows of ministerial service are renewed and the three sacred oils (for the sick, catechumens and chrism) are blessed for distribution to the congregations of the diocese.

The Dean of Gibraltar, the Very Revd Dr John Paddock preached, applying some insights from the Spanish mystics, St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, to the disciplined life of bishops, priests, deacons and lay ministers. Both the Archdeacon of Gibraltar, the Venerable David Sutch, and the Area Dean of Gibraltar, the Revd Canon Hugh Broad were among the clergy taking part.

There was also a significant ecumenical presence including the Revd Dr Mariano Perron, the Ecumenical Officer of the (RC) Archdiocese of Madrid, the Revd Fr Sasoon Zumrookhdian, the Vicar General for the Armenian Apostolic Church in Spain and Portugal (and a number of his parishioners), the Sisters of Unity (Hermanas de la Unidad), Dr Mariano Blasques, the General Secretary of the Protestant Federation, Bishop Elmer Belmonte of the Charismatic Episcopal Church and representatives of the Spanish Evangelical (Presbyterian) Church.

Our thanks go to the Revd Ian Hutchinson Cervantes, the chaplain of St George's Madrid, and the members of the parish, who worked hard to host us and to provide a special lunch following the service.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell to the Diocese in Europe

Image
Deacon Frances and I packed up our office yesterday and turned over our official files, emails and equipment. Thus a close working together for 22 years comes to an end. So it is hard to believe that today, St David's day, a new chapter begins, after 44 years of stipendiary ministry, 22 years as deacon then priest and 22 as a bishop.  Here are just a few memories from the last couple of months...   But now it is time to begin a new chapter.  O God, by whose command the order of time runs its course: forgive our impatience, perfect our faith and, while we await the fulfilment of your promise, grant us to have a good hope because of your Word,  even Jesus Christ our Lord. (St Gregory Nazianzus, 330 - 390)
Read more

Canon Frances Hiller

Image
Most people in this diocese know Frances Hiller. Deacon Frances has served as my chaplain since 11 November 2002! She is a member of the Diocesan Ministry Team, the Bishop’s Senior Staff, advises at many levels across the diocese, manages my office, my diary, and much of my correspondence, prepares my liturgical celebrations and generally helps to keep me sane. Last Wednesday she was collated as a canon of our Cathedral Chapter, with the stall of Our Lady of Europe. Congratulations to Canon Deacon Frances Hiller! 
Read more

4 New Bishops for the Polish Catholic Church (Union of Utrecht)

Image
  History was made today for the Union of Utrecht, the Old Catholic Communion of Churches, with which the Churches of the Anglican Communion are in full communion. The Polish member of the Union of Utrecht is called the Polish Catholic Church. It consists of three dioceses at present, but with the death of the late Bishop W iktor   Wysoczański earlier this year, there were no bishops remaining. A synod this summer elected 4 to fill the three dioceses and provide an auxiliary for Warsaw as well. So today, the 4 new bishops were consecrated, the first time for such a multiple consecration in an Old Catholic Church. It also marks the beginning an entirely new chapter in the life of the Polish Catholic Church. Bishop Dick Schoon The service, slightly over 3 hours in length, was presided by Bishop Dick Schoon, the Bishop of Haarlem, assisted by Bishop Pavel Stránský of the Czech Old Catholic Church, and Bishop John Okoro, Bishop Emeritus of the Old Catholic Church of Austria. Archbishop Be
Read more