Eurobishop

St George's Madrid The Chrism Mass is a key moment each year when the unity of those engaged in public ministry is manifested and renewed, and when the sacred oils of baptism, the sick and chrism are blessed for distribution across the diocese.  St James the Apostle refers to anointing the sick with oil, and the prayer of blessing asks that the Lord may free those anointed from pain and illness and made well again in body, mind and soul.  In blessing the oil of the catechumens we pray that those anointed in preparation for their baptism will be given a deeper understanding of the gospel and strength for the challenge of Christian living.  The sacred chrism, a mixture of olive oil and fragrant and aromatic essences, is blessed by the bishop and priests together, and is used after baptisms, at confirmations and ordinations, as a sign of the outpouring of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  A translation of an ancient (sixth century) hymn O Redemptor sume carmen  is sun...

Clergy and lay ministers normally try gather with their bishops in Holy Week for the Chrism Mass, when the sacred oils for the sacraments are blessed and consecrated and vows of ministerial commitment are renewed. Given our vast geography in the Diocese in Europe, one such gathering would not be logistically possible if a good number of clergy and lay ministers are going to be able to attend. So customarily 4 such services are held, two at which Bishop Robert presides (Brussels and Paris) and two at which I preside, in Madrid and Rome.  These are privileged moments when we gather in the midst of the busiest week of the year, to show our unity in the mission and ministry of Christ's Church to which we are called, and to demonstrate that unity through renewing our vows together and blessing the sacred oils which we use throughout the year.  More than 45 clergy and Readers were in attendance in Madrid and Rome. We were blessed also by the presence of ecumenical partner clergy fro...

In Holy Week in this Diocese in Europe there are normally several Chrism Masses celebrated in various centres. I was scheduled to preside at those masses in Madrid and Rome, for instance, with Bishop Robert presiding in Brussels and Paris. But due to the Europe-wide lockdown, these services were cancelled.  However, Bishop Robert and I thought it would be fitting to have a service, streamed online, for the clergy and lay minsters to renew their vows, which is normally a part of this rite. A diocesan production team went into action and about 180 priests, deacons and lay ministers joined in the service yesterday. A "screen shot" of some of the participants is above. It was a new experience for all! I had the privilege of preaching the homily. If you care to listen, it is here: It was a privilege to give a word of encouragement to the clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers (Readers) in this strange time, when our ministries are so radically disrupted. Among my words to ...

At the Chrism mass celebrated on Monday in St George's Madrid, the clergy, readers and lay faithful present also rejoiced in the collation of the Revd David Waller as a canon of the diocese. Canon Waller will occupy the stall of Blessed John Henry Newman (in the Pro-Cathedral in Malta). The new canon is the Chaplain of the Anglican Church in Palma de Mallorca, and an Area Dean in the Archdeaconry of Gibraltar. About 20 clergy and readers from Portugal, Spain and the Balearic Islands came together for the solemn ceremony of blessing the oils and renewal of vows of ministry. Many of the clergy and lay ministers met on Sunday evening for a dinner and companionship. It can be a lonely business, ministry, especially in the Diocese in Europe. It is good to take advantage of such times to get together for mutual support and building of colleagiality. Clergy and readers prepare for the liturgy The most solemn moment in the rite of blessing the oils is the consecration of Holy Ch...

Blest by the sun, the olive tree brought clusters of fair fruit to birth whose ripeness now we bring with prayer, Lord Christ, redeemer of the earth. Thus begins the ancient Latin hymn that accompanies the procession of the oils to the altar during the chrism mass to be blessed. The oil of catechumens is used to anoint those who are about to be baptized; the oil of chrism is used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy orders.  The oil of the sick is used in the sacrament of anointing of the sick. This rite of blessing is at the heart of the chrism mass (indeed gives the service its name) and is the most ancient part of this liturgy. Since ancient times bishops gathered with their clergy during Holy Week to bless the oils which would be needed for those to be initiated into the Christian faith at Easter. Today, the priests still join with the bishop in the solemn prayer over the Chrism, recalling our unity in the priestly office.  The public renewal ...

The Archdeacon of Italy and Malta, the Venerable Vickie Sims, hosted a Chrism Mass in her parish of All Saints, Milan on Tuesday. Clergy and Readers from Italy, Denmark and Spain gathered for the annual service at which the oils used for baptism, anointing the sick and confirmation are blessed, and the diaconal and priestly vows of ordination are reaffirmed, along with the promises made by licensed lay ministers, or Readers. The celebration was enhanced by the presence of Archbishop Sir David Moxon, the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome, who was able, along with me, to reaffirm his vows as a bishop in Christ's Holy Catholic Church. Archbishop Moxon retires from the Anglican Centre in Rome later this year. We were able to pay tribute for the way has has opened so many doors in Anglican-Roman Catholic relations during his time as Director, and for the warmth of our present A-RC relations, which is due in no small part to his remarkable ecumenical ministry. His Associate ...

The Chrism Eucharist was celebrated on Tuesday in Holy Week in two centres in the Diocese: Rome and the Hague. At these services, the clergy and readers of the area gather with the bishop (in All Saints Rome it was with Honorary Assistant Bishop Michael Colclough) for one of the most solemn and significant liturgies of our Church. Representatives of the laity present the three oils to be blessed I was able to preside at the service in the Church of St John and St Philip in the Hague. During the service, the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and the oil of chrism are blessed. We use the first to anoint those who are seeking to become part of the Church through baptism. The second is for anointing those who are sick and the third is used after baptism, in confirmation and in the ordination of priests, to signify the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and the faithful at these times. . The Chrism Eucharist is also the time when those in ministry, deac...

Every year during Holy Week the oils that are used throughout the following year for ministry to the sick, for Christian initiation, and for ordination are solemnly blessed in an episcopal service. This is also the occasion at which the clergy and Readers (lay ministers) of the diocese are invited to reaffirm the promises they have made in their ministry, before the bishop. As in recent years, in order to include more clergy and Readers, the bishops will each preside at a Chrism Eucharist in different centres in the diocese on Tuesday in Holy Week. Paris - Tuesday 26 March , 11.30 am,  St George’s Church Bishop Geoffrey presiding and preaching.  Florence - Tuesday 26 March, 12.00 noon,  St Mark’s Church Bishop David presiding. Preacher:  Canon Simon Godfrey, Chancellor of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Valetta.  A simple lunch will follow both services As the laity play an important role in representing the whole body of the faithful, they are stron...

Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels One of the most significant liturgies at this time of the year is the Chrism Mass. At this service, since the earliest days of the Church, the bishop blesses the oil of baptism, the oil of the sick and the oil of chrism.  The modern service includes the reaffirmation of ministerial vows in which bishops, priests and deacons renew their commitment to service together in Christ’s Church. In recent years in the Church of England, this is also a time when Readers (licensed lay ministers) can also recommit themselves to their ministry of the word which they share with the ordained. The Revd Canon Dr Jack McDonald was the preacher at the service held in the Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels on Tuesday 3 April. Canon MacDonald is the priest-in-charge of Sts Mary and Martha, Leuven, and is a canon theologian of the Pro-Cathedral. In his sermon he reminded the clergy and readers of the essence of Christian ministry: "...  Jesu...

On Tuesday in Holy Week, clergy and readers from the diocese gathered with the bishops in two different churches for Chrism masses. For 5 years now, these services have been celebrated simultaneously in different parts of the diocese to enable more people to attend this important Holy Week tradition. This year, Bishop Geoffrey presided at one service in St Boniface, Antwerp while I presided at Holy Trinity Geneva. The service in Geneva brought together clergy and readers from 5 countries - Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy and Monaco. The chaplain of Holy Trinity, the Revd Roy Taylor (below centre) hosted the service and some of his parishioners provided lunch following for the visiting clergy and laity. Music was provided by members of Holy Trinity choir. The preacher was the Archdeacon of Switzerland, the Venerable Peter Potter (below left), who linked the service to aspects of the Royal Maundy at which 3 laity from Switzerland will be honoured by Her Majesty the Queen on ...

Every year during Holy Week the oils that are used throughout the following year for ministry to the sick, for Christian initiation, and for ordination are solemnly blessed in an episcopal service. This is also the occasion at which the clergy and Readers of the diocese are invited to reaffirm the promises they have made in their ministry, before the bishop. As in recent years, in order to include more clergy and Readers, the bishops will each preside at a Chrism Eucharist in different centres in the diocese on Tuesday in Holy Week. ANTWERP - Tuesday 19 April, 12.00 noon St Boniface Church, Bishop Geoffrey presiding. . GENEVA - Tuesday 19 April, 12.00 noon Holy Trinity Church, Bishop David presiding. The preacher will be the Venerable Peter Potter, Archdeacon of Switzerland. A simple lunch will follow both services As the laity play an important role in representing the whole body of the faithful, they are strongly encouraged to attend these services where this is logist...

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, ...

Every year during Holy Week the oils that are used throughout the following year for ministry to the sick, for Christian initiation, and for ordination are solemnly blessed in an episcopal service. This is also the occasion at which the clergy and readers of the diocese are invited to reaffirm the promises and commitments they have made in their ministry, before the bishop. As in recent years, in order to include more clergy and readers in this significant event, the Diocesan Bishop and the Suffragan Bishop will preside at Chrism Eucharists in different centres in the diocese. BRUSSELS - Tuesday 30 March, 12.00 The Pro-Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Brussels: Bishop Geoffrey presiding. MADRID - Tuesday 30 March, 12.00 noon St George’s Church, Madrid: Bishop David presiding. The preacher will be the Very Revd Dr John Paddock, the Dean of Gibraltar. PARIS - Thursday 1 April, 12.00 noon St George’s Church, Paris: Bishop David presiding. The preacher will be the Revd Philip...