The Cause of the Canonisation of John Henry Cardinal Newman

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The Cause welcomes new Archbishop of Birmingham

Categorised as News and published Sunday, October 4th, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI at Viterbo, Italy: Newman, ‘celebrated intellectual and man of luminous spirituality’
Littlemore Pilgrimage 2009: Reflecting upon Newman’s Divine Call

Bishop Bernard Longley at Walsingham, where he celebrated a Mass for Travellers, August 2009 (Credit: © Mazur/catholicchurch.org.uk)

Father Paul Chavasse, Actor for the Cause of Cardinal Newman’s Canonisation, and Provost of the Birmingham Oratory, has welcomed the announcement that the Holy Father has appointed Bishop Bernard Longley as the new Archbishop of Birmingham (UK). Archbishop’s Longley’s appointment was announced on Thursday.

Father Chavasse said: “I welcome with great joy the announcement that Bernard Longley is the new Archbishop of Birmingham. It has brought great delight to the faithful in Birmingham that the Holy Father has appointed a new Archbishop so quickly. We at the Oratory, preparing for the Beatification of our Founder Cardinal Newman, look forward to working very closely with Archbishop Bernard in bringing these preparations to fulfilment in union with the Archdiocese.

“Our new Archbishop has called Newman ‘an example and inspiration’ for Catholics in the Archdiocese, the country, and throughout the world. Archbishop Bernard, as do we all, desires that Newman’s teachings, as well as his sanctity, may be ever more deeply understood by the Church.”

Father Chavasse went on: “Archbishop Longley has spoken of his desire to ‘give a clear voice to the teaching of the Church and to express the love of Christ, especially by reaching out to those who are in need.’ In this spirit we ask John Henry Newman’s prayers that our new Archbishop may receive the grace he needs for his mission here in Birmingham.”

Archbishop Longley will be installed at S. Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham on 8 December 2009, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and one of the patronal feasts of the Archdiocese. It is also the patronal feast of the church of the Birmingham Oratory, which was opened one hundred years ago this year.

Archbishop Bernard said in an interview last week that if the Holy Father visits the UK next year it will be a “moment of unity with the Successor of Peter that will inspire people in every dimension of the Church’s life.”

Father Chavasse noted: “Newman was a ‘theologian of the Papacy’, whose own religious journey led him to an acceptance of the Pope as the indispensable focus of unity in the Church. In this light, a State Visit of the Holy Father would offer unprecedented encouragement to British Catholics, and promote authentic, fruitful dialogue among all Christians.”

To read about the November visit to Birmingham of Jack Sullivan, who was healed by the prayers of Cardinal Newman, click here.

To read our recent interview with Sister Mary Dechant, about Littlemore, where John Henry Newman was received into the Catholic Church, click here.