My apologies to Followers of this blog for the lack of posting of late – becoming a Bishop and then Archbishop has rather overtaken my time and energy for the last couple of months since Easter! Photo-Videos of my Consecration and later Inauguration are available below.
I’d like to THANK EVERYONE who has prayed for me, supported me, attended the events and has/had offered Masses for me – believe me, the knowledge of your love and prayers have sustained me throughout what has been a most spiritually and physically, emotionally and psychologically demanding time! I’ve been quite overwhelmed by the number and sincerity of messages and comments.
Words really can’t adequately describe the emotions that I have felt these past few weeks. Believe me when I say, I can still feel the weight of the Book of the Gospels on my shoulders! I suspect that will never go away. I have felt physical and emotional pain and anxiety. I have stood at the foot of the Cross and at the Judgement many times in my prayers and in my thoughts. I have felt both unworthy and made to feel worthy, I have felt unsure and been comfortably assured… the strength and volume of the support I have received… in innumerable ways I seem to have been persuaded that this is indeed God’s will. I don’t say that at all lightly, for I was the last to be convinced!
To those who prayed for my acceptance of this task, I thank you. You know who you are. My heart is indeed now reconciled and I have felt a strangely growing confidence as events have unfolded. Though as we might say in Sussex, “the lot has fall to me in a fairground” [cf “Sussex by the Sea” & Ps 16:6] yet have I been increasingly encouraged to recognise and discern God’s hand in it all… for “yea, I have a goodly heritage” in the generations of Apostles whose charge I now share.
It was truly a blessing to be Consecrated on the feast of Pope St Pius V the codifier of the Tridentine Liturgy and in a Chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist, for whom I have had a long and particular devotion; most particularly since studying his Prologue in VI Form in A-level Divinity and who’s words “God is love” (now as before, my “motto”) have ever shaped my theological and philosophical outlook.
Fratres charissimi, ora pro me!
Dear ++Jerome,
I was moved reading this blog, but I am convincened that the Lord wants you in this spot in Brighton by the sea. I was puzzled to read that you are now Archbischop, doe that still mean you are Archbishop of Europe or do you cover a wider territory?
I have read your reponse to me on Facebook. I will be contemplating the contents of your message and get back to you.
With every good wish in Christ,
Father Ed Bakker OPR
Dear Fr
I am diocesan Ordinary for Great Britain and Ireland and Metropolitan Archbishop for Europe – I think that’s a wide enough territory, with currently four and hopefully another two suffragan Sees and eventually Bishops to assist me. We have currently two Bishops on the Continent – in France and Portugal, another Bishop-Elect in Turkey and EV’s/VG’s assisting elsewhere. These are interesting and exciting times!